This book presents a process for engaging youth in participatory action research and evaluation a... more This book presents a process for engaging youth in participatory action research and evaluation aimed at improving their communities and the institutions intended to serve them.
California's 4-H Youth Development Program has adopted an asset-based community development a... more California's 4-H Youth Development Program has adopted an asset-based community development approach to extending programming with Latino youths and families. This approach entails learning and relationship building with local Latino communities and building on untapped existing resources, such as Latino-serving organizations and networks. Here we present three tools developed to further the effort.
California's 4-H Youth Development Program adopted an asset-based and systematic community de... more California's 4-H Youth Development Program adopted an asset-based and systematic community development approach to studying successful Latino-serving youth development programs. This effort included a scan of Latino engagement resources and Latino-serving youth development settings as well as key informant interviews. Beyond generating important data, the research process itself facilitated impactful Latino community outreach, relationship building, and engagement, suggesting multiple potential benefits to using a community development approach in research.
Farmers in Nepal face many of the same global challenges associated with initiating and scaling p... more Farmers in Nepal face many of the same global challenges associated with initiating and scaling poultry husbandry as many other developing countries. These include access to innovative approaches in finance, credit, coop design, marketing, and sales. As with most low-income countries, Nepalese poultry farmers also lack adequate training in poultry husbandry including biosecurity. In this paper, we describe a collaborative workshop-subsidy approach to addressing these challenges conducted by a partnership with the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, the College of Engineering, the School of Education, and a farming co-operative based in the semi-rural area of Bhaktapur, Nepal. The program included two workshops covering aspects of poultry rearing including coop construction, chick rearing, biosecurity, and husbandry. Both workshops were a combination of lectures and hands-on learning. Following completion of the workshops, each farmer received subsidized materials for coop constr...
This article explores how Latinx youth engagement practices vary across different types of out-of... more This article explores how Latinx youth engagement practices vary across different types of out-of-school organizations that successfully sustain Latinx youth participation. Data are drawn from a qualitative study of 13 California organizations that each emphasize one of 3 missions: social justice youth development, “one-stop” wrap-around services, or academic enrichment. While all organizations are found to adhere to a core set of Latinx youth development guiding principles, there are nuanced differences in how they are operationalized in practice across varied organization types, reflecting variation in terms of discourse, scale, and scope. These findings highlight the need for youth development practitioners and collaborating researchers to understand the context of youth-serving organizations when identifying and implementing promising practices and extension programs.
A person who lives in the United States who comes from, or whose parents, grandparents, or earlie... more A person who lives in the United States who comes from, or whose parents, grandparents, or earlier ancestors came from, Latin America; may be mono-, bi-, or multilingual in Spanish, English, Brazilian Portuguese, or an indigenous language (e.g., Mixtec). This term dismantles the default masculine of romance languages; it's a gender-inclusive and gender-neutral term.
discrimination. Analyses repeatedly indicate that these and other issues often shape the daily li... more discrimination. Analyses repeatedly indicate that these and other issues often shape the daily lives and developmental trajectories of Latinx youth. These social issues also undermine Latinx participation in out-of-school time (OST) programs, which hold potential to promote youth well-being (Guzman-Rocha, McLeod, & Bohnert, 2017). Increasingly, leaders of youth-serving organizations voice concern about low Latinx participation (Borden et al., 2006), often recognizing that poor participation reflects a need to develop new capacities and inclusive practices (Perkins et al., 2007). As youth development practitioners and researchers, we are often asked to support community efforts to improve inclusion and equity. Recently we were asked to summarize the scholarship on Latinx participation in youth development programs and recommend ways to promote meaningful and sustained participation. This article presents key elements of this research synthesis. Our goal is to help OST programs develo...
In “Closing the Achievement Gap: Report of Superintendent Jack O’Connell’s California P-16 Counci... more In “Closing the Achievement Gap: Report of Superintendent Jack O’Connell’s California P-16 Council,” [1] fostering partnerships is recommended as a strategy to close the achievement gap. Schoolcommunity partnerships are common in schools that are closing the achievement gap. Such partnerships engage families, other community members, community leaders, and a wide variety of local businesses, agencies, institutions, and nonprofit organizations.
When a child is absent 10% of the time during an academic year they are considered chronically ab... more When a child is absent 10% of the time during an academic year they are considered chronically absent. Chronic absence is an early warning indicator because it is associated with a variety of negative educational, social, health and employment outcomes for children as they grow up. Chronic absenteeism is a significant concern in the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD), where more than one in ten students meet or exceed this 10% threshold. SCUSD has been working with the UC Davis Center for Regional Change and twelve schools with high chronic absence rates through a Chronic Absence Learning Collaborative (CALC), which works to address attendance barriers and identify effective support systems. In addition, three elementary schools with similar student demographics that have comparatively low rates of chronic absence have been a focus of study, with the aim of learning from their practices. Findings from these three schools are presented here.
A person who lives in the United States who comes from, or whose parents, grandparents, or earlie... more A person who lives in the United States who comes from, or whose parents, grandparents, or earlier ancestors came from, Latin America; may be mono-, bi-, or multilingual in Spanish, English, Brazilian Portuguese, or an indigenous language (e.g., Mixtec). This term dismantles the default masculine of romance languages; it's a gender-inclusive and gender-neutral term.
This program was designed to develop cooking skills among youth living in a rural food desert. Us... more This program was designed to develop cooking skills among youth living in a rural food desert. Use of Theory: Research suggests that obesity prevention programs based on Social Cognitive Theory may be effective to promote healthy weight status in school-age youth. SCT was integrated into a nutrition curriculum using improvised kitchen space to provide opportunities for observational learning and development of behavioral skills and self-efficacy. Target Audience: This program was designed for high school students living in rural southeastern North Carolina. Teachers at the school were interviewed to identify greatest needs for their students, and a curriculum was planned for the entire 9th grade class. Program Description: The curriculum was implemented in 4 sessions. Session 1 targeted food groups and nutrients, with practice opportunities to analyze food labels. Students used laptops in session 2 to find recipes for favorite meals, analyze the nutrition content using an online application, and modify recipes to meet nutrition requirements. In session 3, student teams traveled to a supermarket where each team had $10 to purchase ingredients, and session 4 was devoted to preparing and tasting the modified recipes in an improvised kitchen. Evaluation Methods: With IRB approval, the teaching team administered an anonymous follow-up survey to participants (n = 40). Each item (Likert scales) addressed a program objective. Each item began with the stem, "After participating in the nutrition sessions, I feel more confident to:" followed by 12 target behaviors, like "analyze nutrition information for any recipe." Results: Of 40 participants, 78% reported increased confidence to perform at least 75% of the target behaviors. Conclusions: Integration of SCT in a cooking curriculum could improve self-efficacy to perform cooking related skills. Higher self-efficacy may increase frequency of a behavior (Glanz, Rimer, and Viswanath, p. 163). Improvised kitchen space provides small teams with chances for observational learning, social support, and stress-free opportunities to develop mastery of skills. Funding: None.
Open Geospatial Data, Software and Standards, 2019
Crowdsourced, open geospatial data such as the data compiled through OpenStreetMap have proven us... more Crowdsourced, open geospatial data such as the data compiled through OpenStreetMap have proven useful in addressing humanitarian, disaster and development needs. However, the existing ways in which volunteers engage in OpenStreetMap have inherent limitations that lead to critical data gaps in economically underdeveloped countries and regions. Various initiatives that target specific geospatial data gaps and engage volunteers for longer periods have emerged to overcome these limitations, yet there has been limited in-depth study of such targeted mapping initiatives. This article reports the findings from Digital Internship and Leadership (DIAL), a programme designed to fill data gaps in rural Nepal by engaging young people in mapping rural Nepal by integrating targeted mapping, a virtual internship strategy and youth leadership development. The findings suggest the potential benefits of targeted mapping initiatives embedded in youth leadership internship programmes to address those c...
This qualitative study presents practices associated with sustained youth engagement at 13 Latinx... more This qualitative study presents practices associated with sustained youth engagement at 13 Latinx-serving youth development programs located in 3 California counties: 1 rural, 1 suburban and 1 urban. Empirical findings reflect 5 key dimensions of practice: (a) integrate extended understandings of positive youth development, (b) support positive ethnic identity development, (c) contend with physiological and social effects of discrimination, (d) respond to the ramifications of economic poverty, and (e) act upon the diversity of local and regional Latinx experience. Study findings translate into guiding principles that youth development programs are encouraged to operationalize based on local interests, needs, and resources.
Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 2017
Introduction We describe the effectiveness of community outreach and engagement in supporting rec... more Introduction We describe the effectiveness of community outreach and engagement in supporting recruitment for the US National Children’s Vanguard Study between 2009 and 2012. Methods Thirty-seven study locations used 1 of 4 strategies to recruit 18–49-year-old pregnant or trying to conceive women: (1) Initial Vanguard Study used household-based recruitment; (2) Direct Outreach emphasized self-referral; (3) Enhanced Household-Based Recruitment enhanced Initial Vanguard Study strategies; and (4) Provider-Based Recruitment recruited through healthcare providers. Outreach and engagement included advance letters, interactions with healthcare providers, participation in community events, contacts with community organizations, and media outreach. Results After 1–2 years, 41%–74% of 9844 study-eligible women had heard about the National Children’s Vanguard Study when first approached. Women who heard were 1.5–3 times more likely to consent. Hearing via word-of-mouth or the media most freque...
In 2005, the Sierra Health Foundation board of directors made a commitment to improving the healt... more In 2005, the Sierra Health Foundation board of directors made a commitment to improving the health of youth by approving $8 million over five years to create youth development coalitions in seven communities across the Sacramento region. This decision extended the foundation's goal of improving the well-being of children, which began with our previous initiative, Community Partnerships for Healthy Children. In 2006, the foundation launched REACH: Connecting Communities and Youth for a Healthy Future with a vision to ensure healthy development and leadership opportunities for youth between the ages of 10 and 15. We undertook this work understanding it was about more than making progress in seven communities, and committed ourselves to learning all we could. Accordingly, we share this evaluation of the program-including successes and challenges-to contribute to the body of knowledge that supports effective youth development and community building, with the hope that it will serve as a valuable resource to others engaged in or considering similar efforts. The REACH Program and this report would not have been possible without the vast number of partners who were on this journey with us. We offer our heartfelt thanks to all of the community-based partners, schools, public officials, technical assistance providers, coalition staff members, volunteers, adult allies and the hundreds of young people who made REACH successful in their communities. We also thank the evaluators from the California Communities Program at University of California, Davis, who dedicated themselves to this project and surpassed all expectations we had of them. The release of this evaluation report marks a significant milestone in our journey-yet it is far from over. We plan to add new partnerships to those formed through REACH as we continue our work to ensure all young people are healthy and prepared to succeed in the region. Initial steps to achieve this goal were taken in 2008, when Vacaville and Yuba-Sutter accepted our invitation to join the REACH Program. While their stories are not captured here, we can report that they are benefiting from the experiences of the original sites, and are poised to make unique contributions of their own. Finally, and most importantly, we hope you find in this report evidence of the enormous potential, resilience, energy, optimism and civic spirit held by youth across the region. These shared attributes bind their common future in ways we are only beginning to understand. The challenge facing those committed to building a healthy and prosperous future is to ensure the investments needed to make sure all youth are on track to reach their full potential are made now. We believe we all will benefit if we succeed.
This book presents a process for engaging youth in participatory action research and evaluation a... more This book presents a process for engaging youth in participatory action research and evaluation aimed at improving their communities and the institutions intended to serve them.
California's 4-H Youth Development Program has adopted an asset-based community development a... more California's 4-H Youth Development Program has adopted an asset-based community development approach to extending programming with Latino youths and families. This approach entails learning and relationship building with local Latino communities and building on untapped existing resources, such as Latino-serving organizations and networks. Here we present three tools developed to further the effort.
California's 4-H Youth Development Program adopted an asset-based and systematic community de... more California's 4-H Youth Development Program adopted an asset-based and systematic community development approach to studying successful Latino-serving youth development programs. This effort included a scan of Latino engagement resources and Latino-serving youth development settings as well as key informant interviews. Beyond generating important data, the research process itself facilitated impactful Latino community outreach, relationship building, and engagement, suggesting multiple potential benefits to using a community development approach in research.
Farmers in Nepal face many of the same global challenges associated with initiating and scaling p... more Farmers in Nepal face many of the same global challenges associated with initiating and scaling poultry husbandry as many other developing countries. These include access to innovative approaches in finance, credit, coop design, marketing, and sales. As with most low-income countries, Nepalese poultry farmers also lack adequate training in poultry husbandry including biosecurity. In this paper, we describe a collaborative workshop-subsidy approach to addressing these challenges conducted by a partnership with the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, the College of Engineering, the School of Education, and a farming co-operative based in the semi-rural area of Bhaktapur, Nepal. The program included two workshops covering aspects of poultry rearing including coop construction, chick rearing, biosecurity, and husbandry. Both workshops were a combination of lectures and hands-on learning. Following completion of the workshops, each farmer received subsidized materials for coop constr...
This article explores how Latinx youth engagement practices vary across different types of out-of... more This article explores how Latinx youth engagement practices vary across different types of out-of-school organizations that successfully sustain Latinx youth participation. Data are drawn from a qualitative study of 13 California organizations that each emphasize one of 3 missions: social justice youth development, “one-stop” wrap-around services, or academic enrichment. While all organizations are found to adhere to a core set of Latinx youth development guiding principles, there are nuanced differences in how they are operationalized in practice across varied organization types, reflecting variation in terms of discourse, scale, and scope. These findings highlight the need for youth development practitioners and collaborating researchers to understand the context of youth-serving organizations when identifying and implementing promising practices and extension programs.
A person who lives in the United States who comes from, or whose parents, grandparents, or earlie... more A person who lives in the United States who comes from, or whose parents, grandparents, or earlier ancestors came from, Latin America; may be mono-, bi-, or multilingual in Spanish, English, Brazilian Portuguese, or an indigenous language (e.g., Mixtec). This term dismantles the default masculine of romance languages; it's a gender-inclusive and gender-neutral term.
discrimination. Analyses repeatedly indicate that these and other issues often shape the daily li... more discrimination. Analyses repeatedly indicate that these and other issues often shape the daily lives and developmental trajectories of Latinx youth. These social issues also undermine Latinx participation in out-of-school time (OST) programs, which hold potential to promote youth well-being (Guzman-Rocha, McLeod, & Bohnert, 2017). Increasingly, leaders of youth-serving organizations voice concern about low Latinx participation (Borden et al., 2006), often recognizing that poor participation reflects a need to develop new capacities and inclusive practices (Perkins et al., 2007). As youth development practitioners and researchers, we are often asked to support community efforts to improve inclusion and equity. Recently we were asked to summarize the scholarship on Latinx participation in youth development programs and recommend ways to promote meaningful and sustained participation. This article presents key elements of this research synthesis. Our goal is to help OST programs develo...
In “Closing the Achievement Gap: Report of Superintendent Jack O’Connell’s California P-16 Counci... more In “Closing the Achievement Gap: Report of Superintendent Jack O’Connell’s California P-16 Council,” [1] fostering partnerships is recommended as a strategy to close the achievement gap. Schoolcommunity partnerships are common in schools that are closing the achievement gap. Such partnerships engage families, other community members, community leaders, and a wide variety of local businesses, agencies, institutions, and nonprofit organizations.
When a child is absent 10% of the time during an academic year they are considered chronically ab... more When a child is absent 10% of the time during an academic year they are considered chronically absent. Chronic absence is an early warning indicator because it is associated with a variety of negative educational, social, health and employment outcomes for children as they grow up. Chronic absenteeism is a significant concern in the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD), where more than one in ten students meet or exceed this 10% threshold. SCUSD has been working with the UC Davis Center for Regional Change and twelve schools with high chronic absence rates through a Chronic Absence Learning Collaborative (CALC), which works to address attendance barriers and identify effective support systems. In addition, three elementary schools with similar student demographics that have comparatively low rates of chronic absence have been a focus of study, with the aim of learning from their practices. Findings from these three schools are presented here.
A person who lives in the United States who comes from, or whose parents, grandparents, or earlie... more A person who lives in the United States who comes from, or whose parents, grandparents, or earlier ancestors came from, Latin America; may be mono-, bi-, or multilingual in Spanish, English, Brazilian Portuguese, or an indigenous language (e.g., Mixtec). This term dismantles the default masculine of romance languages; it's a gender-inclusive and gender-neutral term.
This program was designed to develop cooking skills among youth living in a rural food desert. Us... more This program was designed to develop cooking skills among youth living in a rural food desert. Use of Theory: Research suggests that obesity prevention programs based on Social Cognitive Theory may be effective to promote healthy weight status in school-age youth. SCT was integrated into a nutrition curriculum using improvised kitchen space to provide opportunities for observational learning and development of behavioral skills and self-efficacy. Target Audience: This program was designed for high school students living in rural southeastern North Carolina. Teachers at the school were interviewed to identify greatest needs for their students, and a curriculum was planned for the entire 9th grade class. Program Description: The curriculum was implemented in 4 sessions. Session 1 targeted food groups and nutrients, with practice opportunities to analyze food labels. Students used laptops in session 2 to find recipes for favorite meals, analyze the nutrition content using an online application, and modify recipes to meet nutrition requirements. In session 3, student teams traveled to a supermarket where each team had $10 to purchase ingredients, and session 4 was devoted to preparing and tasting the modified recipes in an improvised kitchen. Evaluation Methods: With IRB approval, the teaching team administered an anonymous follow-up survey to participants (n = 40). Each item (Likert scales) addressed a program objective. Each item began with the stem, "After participating in the nutrition sessions, I feel more confident to:" followed by 12 target behaviors, like "analyze nutrition information for any recipe." Results: Of 40 participants, 78% reported increased confidence to perform at least 75% of the target behaviors. Conclusions: Integration of SCT in a cooking curriculum could improve self-efficacy to perform cooking related skills. Higher self-efficacy may increase frequency of a behavior (Glanz, Rimer, and Viswanath, p. 163). Improvised kitchen space provides small teams with chances for observational learning, social support, and stress-free opportunities to develop mastery of skills. Funding: None.
Open Geospatial Data, Software and Standards, 2019
Crowdsourced, open geospatial data such as the data compiled through OpenStreetMap have proven us... more Crowdsourced, open geospatial data such as the data compiled through OpenStreetMap have proven useful in addressing humanitarian, disaster and development needs. However, the existing ways in which volunteers engage in OpenStreetMap have inherent limitations that lead to critical data gaps in economically underdeveloped countries and regions. Various initiatives that target specific geospatial data gaps and engage volunteers for longer periods have emerged to overcome these limitations, yet there has been limited in-depth study of such targeted mapping initiatives. This article reports the findings from Digital Internship and Leadership (DIAL), a programme designed to fill data gaps in rural Nepal by engaging young people in mapping rural Nepal by integrating targeted mapping, a virtual internship strategy and youth leadership development. The findings suggest the potential benefits of targeted mapping initiatives embedded in youth leadership internship programmes to address those c...
This qualitative study presents practices associated with sustained youth engagement at 13 Latinx... more This qualitative study presents practices associated with sustained youth engagement at 13 Latinx-serving youth development programs located in 3 California counties: 1 rural, 1 suburban and 1 urban. Empirical findings reflect 5 key dimensions of practice: (a) integrate extended understandings of positive youth development, (b) support positive ethnic identity development, (c) contend with physiological and social effects of discrimination, (d) respond to the ramifications of economic poverty, and (e) act upon the diversity of local and regional Latinx experience. Study findings translate into guiding principles that youth development programs are encouraged to operationalize based on local interests, needs, and resources.
Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 2017
Introduction We describe the effectiveness of community outreach and engagement in supporting rec... more Introduction We describe the effectiveness of community outreach and engagement in supporting recruitment for the US National Children’s Vanguard Study between 2009 and 2012. Methods Thirty-seven study locations used 1 of 4 strategies to recruit 18–49-year-old pregnant or trying to conceive women: (1) Initial Vanguard Study used household-based recruitment; (2) Direct Outreach emphasized self-referral; (3) Enhanced Household-Based Recruitment enhanced Initial Vanguard Study strategies; and (4) Provider-Based Recruitment recruited through healthcare providers. Outreach and engagement included advance letters, interactions with healthcare providers, participation in community events, contacts with community organizations, and media outreach. Results After 1–2 years, 41%–74% of 9844 study-eligible women had heard about the National Children’s Vanguard Study when first approached. Women who heard were 1.5–3 times more likely to consent. Hearing via word-of-mouth or the media most freque...
In 2005, the Sierra Health Foundation board of directors made a commitment to improving the healt... more In 2005, the Sierra Health Foundation board of directors made a commitment to improving the health of youth by approving $8 million over five years to create youth development coalitions in seven communities across the Sacramento region. This decision extended the foundation's goal of improving the well-being of children, which began with our previous initiative, Community Partnerships for Healthy Children. In 2006, the foundation launched REACH: Connecting Communities and Youth for a Healthy Future with a vision to ensure healthy development and leadership opportunities for youth between the ages of 10 and 15. We undertook this work understanding it was about more than making progress in seven communities, and committed ourselves to learning all we could. Accordingly, we share this evaluation of the program-including successes and challenges-to contribute to the body of knowledge that supports effective youth development and community building, with the hope that it will serve as a valuable resource to others engaged in or considering similar efforts. The REACH Program and this report would not have been possible without the vast number of partners who were on this journey with us. We offer our heartfelt thanks to all of the community-based partners, schools, public officials, technical assistance providers, coalition staff members, volunteers, adult allies and the hundreds of young people who made REACH successful in their communities. We also thank the evaluators from the California Communities Program at University of California, Davis, who dedicated themselves to this project and surpassed all expectations we had of them. The release of this evaluation report marks a significant milestone in our journey-yet it is far from over. We plan to add new partnerships to those formed through REACH as we continue our work to ensure all young people are healthy and prepared to succeed in the region. Initial steps to achieve this goal were taken in 2008, when Vacaville and Yuba-Sutter accepted our invitation to join the REACH Program. While their stories are not captured here, we can report that they are benefiting from the experiences of the original sites, and are poised to make unique contributions of their own. Finally, and most importantly, we hope you find in this report evidence of the enormous potential, resilience, energy, optimism and civic spirit held by youth across the region. These shared attributes bind their common future in ways we are only beginning to understand. The challenge facing those committed to building a healthy and prosperous future is to ensure the investments needed to make sure all youth are on track to reach their full potential are made now. We believe we all will benefit if we succeed.
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Papers by Nancy Erbstein