Assessment: Matching Programs to Children's Needs
Five Town CTC
Rockport, Maine
Program providers often ask which programs work best for specific populations of children and youth. Blueprints has identified several surveys that make it easy to match children's strengths and needs to specific programs in the following categories:
- Outcome area: behavior, education, emotional well-being, physical health or relationships.
- Risk and protective factors: individual, peer, family, school, and community influences that predict at least one key developmental outcome.
- Developmental stage: infancy (0-2 years), early childhood (3-4 years), late childhood (5-11 years), adolescence (12-18 years) and early adulthood (19-22).
Youth Experience Survey
The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Evidence2Success Childhood and Youth Experience Surveys capture information on whether kids are meeting developmental milestones and where they are likely to face challenges in the future.
Communities That Care Youth Survey
The Communities That Care (CTC) Youth Survey is a community needs assessment tool that provides community leaders with accurate estimates of risk and protective factors affecting academic performance and positive youth development, as well as alcohol and substance use, school dropout, sexual risk behaviors, delinquency and violence. The CTC Youth Survey is in the public domain. Learn more about Communities That Care and find more information about the survey here.
CSPV Safe Communities Safe Schools Survey
CSPV's Safe Communities Safe Schools (SCSS) Initiative offers an online school climate survey for students, staff, and parents. Schools receive a comprehensive report about their strengths and challenges regarding school climate and risk and protective factors for violence. Administrators also receive a report about the evidence-based programs and strategies available to address common school challenges. Learn more about the SCSS School Climate Survey.
