Design, Sites, and Data Sources
The Reconnecting Youth compendium and evidence gap map focus on programs that provide education and employment services to young people who were not working or in school and who have had experiences that put them at greater risk of long periods of disconnection from school and work, such as not having a high school credential, being parents, or having been involved with the foster care or justice system. To inform the compendium, the team gathered information on programs and practices from a variety of sources, including existing scans of the field, research and policy organizations’ websites, foundations’ websites, websites of well-known programs, clearinghouses and electronic databases, research journals, and professional conference proceedings. The team also consulted experts in the field of opportunity youth. Once the programs were determined to fit within the scope of the project, the team conducted a qualitative questionnaire to learn about program characteristics and practices. To inform the evidence gap map, the team conducted a scan of evidence from similar sources as were used for the compendium. Those studies that were determined to fit within the scope of the project were coded by the team to identify practices used, research methods employed, and outcomes measured.