Do the Methods of AfterSchool Programs Match Their Goals

1
Do the Methods of After-School Programs Match
Their Goals?

• A Study of Two Trinity College Sponsored
  After-School Mentoring Programs in Hartford, CT
• By Richard R. Selander

2
Research Question

• Look at goals and methods of two programs
• VAMP (Vision Academic Mentoring Program)
• ESF (Education, Sports, and Fun) Dream Camp
• Policy Evaluation Do the methods of these two
  after-school mentoring programs match their
  intended goals?
• Not a study of effectiveness

3
Significance

• After-school programs assist students with their
  homework and gives them a place to go to when the
  school day is over
• Other studies look at what works, but few if any
  look at specific programs to see if their methods
  match the statement of goals

4
Research Methodology

• For goals
• Proposals
• VAMP brochure
• ESF letter to parents
• Interviews with coordinators of both programs
• Ms. Shanta Evans of VAMP
• Mr. Dale Phelps of ESF Dream Camp

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Research Methodology

• For methods
• I am a mentor for both programs
• First-hand observations (2 days a week)
• What did I look for?
• How mentors and mentees were selected, grouped
  together, and worked with each other
• Mentor training
• Division of mentoring time (schedule)
• Curriculum covered
• Resources available
• Parent communication

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Goals of VAMP

• Promote academic success
• Positive youth development
• Foster a desire to learn and achieve goals
• Build self-esteem
• Motivate to learn and be creative
• College as a possible future option
• Parent communication
• Give mentors experience in public education and
  have positive influence on a child

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Methods of VAMP

• Tuesdays and Thursdays for 2 hours
• 32 mentees lottery and low scores
• 17 mentors application and interview
• Mentee\Mentor ratio 21 and 11
• Mentor training
• Snacks, homework help, journal, game, bathroom
  break, cleanup, dismissal
• Low parent communication

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VAMP Methods Match Goals?

• Fosters academic achievement
• Mentors work closely with mentees
• Give homework help and encouragement
• Mentees work harder and set higher goals
• Mentees know someone cares, and self-esteem is
  boosted
• Mentors gain experience
• Low parent communication

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Goals of ESF

• Provide best after-school alternatives
• Through education, sports, and fun
• Help achieve full potential
• Set goals for themselves
• Understand importance of education
• Learn to be role models in and out of classroom
• Develop self esteem and build confidence
• Develop better social skills, people and time
  management skills, and classroom skills
• Give mentors a solid mentoring environment
• Parent communication

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Methods of ESF

• Monday through Thursday for 2 hours
• 60 mentees 50 from ESF summer program
• 15 mentors summer program or application
• Mentee\Mentor ratio 31 11
• Mentor training
• Bus transportation, snacks, journal entry on
  weekly theme, class meeting, homework help, read,
  draw, sports activity, game, cleanup, dismissal
• Parent communication

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ESF Methods Match Goals?

• Offers many alternatives
• Sports and games part of curriculum
• Fosters education and importance of school
• Mentors work closely with mentees in good env.
• Act as encouraging role models
• Mentees work harder and set higher goals
• Mentees know someone cares, and self-esteem is
  boosted
• Specific themes focus on social skills
• Good parent communication

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Conclusions

• Thesis The two after-school mentoring programs
  methods closely match the goals
• VAMP achieves all goals but parent communication
• ESF Dream Camp achieves all goals