Discussion Guide for Program Front-Line Staff

Instrument 3: Discussion Guide for Program Front-Line Staff

Before we begin, I want to tell you a few things about this study and your participation in it. Please feel free to ask me any questions you might have. We will also email you a copy of this information.

A team of researchers from the Urban Institute and Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago is working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to identify programs for transition age foster youth that could potentially be included in a federally funded evaluation. ACF is particularly interested in programs that aim to help current and former foster youth succeed in [college/the labor market].

As part of this process, we are talking with representatives from a number of [college success/ETV/employment/housing] programs to learn more about their operation. We will ask you some questions about the [INSERT NAME OF PROGRAM] including questions about the students/youth it serves, the supports it provides, the way it is funded, and any data that your program might collect about its operation. However, this is not an evaluation of your program.

The interview will be conducted by a pair of researchers and will last no more than an hour. We may contact you following the interview to request clarification. Your participation in the study is completely voluntary. You can choose not to participate, skip any questions you would prefer not to answer or end the interview at any time without penalty.

We will share what we learn about different [college success/ETV/employment/housing] programs with ACF and use this information to decide if any of these programs might be good candidates for a rigorous evaluation based on ACF priorities.

The risks associated with participating in this study are minimal. Some of the information we gather may be included in a report to ACF, an issue brief, or other publication. These publications will not identify you by name but may include the name of your program, and it is possible that your identity could be inferred given your position. We do not intend to quote any of the representatives we talk with, but if for any reason we wanted to quote you in a publication, we would ask for your permission first.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STUDY?

DO YOU AGREE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STUDY?

If you have questions or concerns about the study, please contact:

Mike Pergamit Mark Courtney

Urban Institute Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago

202-261-5276 773.702.1219

mpergamit@urban.org markc@uchicago.edu

If you agree to participate in this study and feel that your rights have been violated or that you have

not been treated fairly, contact:

SSA-Chapin Hall IRB Coordinator

University of Chicago School of Social Services Administration

969 E. 60^th Street

Chicago, IL 60637 / (773-834-0402)

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB number for this information collection is 0970-0489 and the expiration date is XX/XX/XXXX

Guide for Program Front-Line Staff

1. Background (e.g., education/training)

2. History with the program/professional development

3. Major roles and responsibilities

4. Program data elements and uses

   1. What do you see as your key program outcomes? What program outcomes are you currently measuring?

   2. Are there any outcomes you’re interested in that aren’t currently being measured? If so, which ones?

   3. What is the process for measuring and tracking key outcomes?

   4. Are there key outcomes that you wish you were able to measure and track but are limited in capacity to do so?

   5. Are there other outcomes you wish your program was able to track but are limited in capacity to do so? What outcomes?

   6. Does your program track the services or supports participants receive?

5. Staff perceptions of why youth participate

   1. What are some of the educational goals or aspirations (if any) that participants in your program may have?

   2. What are some of the career goals (if any) that participants in your program have?

6. Staff perceptions of what participants find most challenging and most rewarding

7. Most challenging and most rewarding aspects of working with participants