Alaska

Brief

Partnering with Young People to Study Persistence and Engagement in the Learn and Earn to Achieve Potential Initiative

July, 2021

Participatory research—including members of a group being studied—recognizes that people closest to a problem have unique perspectives and knowledge. MDRC collaborated with a group of youth fellows in the Learn and Earn to Achieve Potential project, and found that this approach can lead to better evaluation results.

Report

Lessons on Adapting Interventions for Young People Experiencing Homelessness or Systems Involvement

September, 2019

Young people who experience homelessness or involvement in foster care or justice systems face unique challenges. The Learn and Earn to Achieve Potential (LEAP)TM initiative aims to help this population reach its full potential. An MDRC evaluation of two programs adapted by 10 LEAP grantees will contribute knowledge to this field.

The Learn and Earn to Achieve Potential ( LEAP ) project is a three-year nationwide program that provides education and employment services to young people ages 14-25 who are homeless or “systems-involved” — that is, young people who are aging out of the foster care system or who are otherwise involved in the child welfare, criminal justice, or juvenile justice systems...