Teens in the Somali Diaspora: An Evaluative Program Study

Authors

  • Jennifer A. Skuza University of Minnesota, Extension Center for Youth Development

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2019.703

Keywords:

youth development, refugee, immigrant, evaluation, sustainability

Abstract

Program evaluation is a critical part of program sustainability because evaluation can inform improvements and document impact. Here, 2 Minnesota organizations came together in partnership with the Somali American community to work toward a shared vision, which was to develop a new sustainable program that prepared refugee and immigrant youth for their educational and workforce futures while supporting their cultural way of being. This article shares the evaluative study of this program, which reached teens in the Somali diaspora living in Minnesota. The program team had a long-term interest in developing an evidence-based model to suit this special population; this evaluation study was viewed as a step toward becoming evidence-based. The Somali American community supported the study because they valued the program and saw its cultural relevance. The evaluation used pre- and post-program surveys to capture program impacts in 2 outcome areas: workforce preparation and higher education preparation. Results showed that youth participants made gains in their perceptions of both outcome areas. However, gains displayed were unrelated to program attendance. Limitations and recommendations for future evaluation plans are provided.

Author Biography

Jennifer A. Skuza, University of Minnesota, Extension Center for Youth Development

Jennifer A. Skuza is the Associate Dean and State 4-H Director at the University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development. She is also a faculty member in the Youth Development Leadership program at the U of M. Dr. Skuza holds a PhD in work, community and family education from the University of Minnesota and studied international education at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic as a part of her doctoral program. Dr. Skuza also holds a master’s degree in intercultural communication. Her research is focused on global youth citizenship, immigrant and refugee youth and social and cultural foundations of education. 

References

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Published

2019-06-20

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 2 (2019): Special Issue on Immigrant, Refugee, and Border Youth

Section

Program & Practice Articles

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