- Description
This brief is the third in P/PV's GroundWork series, which aims to summarize available evidence on a variety of social policy topics to provide a firm foundation for future work. Created in partnership with the Collaborative for Building After-School Systems (CBASS), the brief provides an overview of promising strategies for recruiting and retaining middle- and high-school-aged African-American and Hispanic males in after-school programs. The brief's findings are based on a review of relevant literature and interviews with 10 after-school programs identified by CBASS intermediaries as successful in these areas. The strategies identified mirror the strategies deemed important for recruiting and retaining older youth more broadly -- regardless of race and gender -- and include accessibility, cultural relevance and flexibility. However the programs interviewed did tailor these strategies to meet the specific needs of older minority boys. While this brief provides a starting point for future research, further work is needed, particularly given the positive outcomes associated with sustained participation in high-quality after-school programs and the challenges many programs face in attracting and retaining this population.
