EQUIP: Elements Quality Improvement Process for Youth Mentoring Programs

说明(由申请人提供)：在青年发展领域利用以研究为基础和以安全为导向的方案实践与积极的青年成果有关，而旨在增加这些类型的方案实践利用率的质量改进过程反过来又被证明能改进实践、增加工作人员保留率和青年成果。然而，在青年辅导领域，严格应用质量改进做法还没有得到系统的发展。利用质量改进进程的一个障碍是缺乏该领域的标准和基准，这些标准和基准现已制定。第二个障碍是缺乏可供现场使用的跨技术平台的自动化、标准化、心理测量学强大的评估工具；缺乏对方案工作人员的培训和对客观的外部审查员的认证；以及在质量改进规划期间用于培训和咨询的资源库。通过移动和基于网络的技术的进步，现在有机会为全国各地的指导计划提供创新和可访问的评估、外部审查员、培训和计划实践资源。拟议项目的总体目标是开发设备(要素质量改进流程)系统、质量改进工具、外部审查员培训方案以及可通过互联网和平板电脑设备访问的基于网络的质量改进系统。在第一阶段，功能和表格优化将添加到现有的EquipTM软件应用程序中。将与指导计划工作人员一起进行焦点小组，以获得有关系统要求和QI偏好的意见。将建立关于质量改进和装备系统的网上培训课程。将与五名指导计划工作人员进行一对一评估研究，以获得关于EquipWeb界面和流程的可用性和消费者满意度反馈。最后，将进行一项可行性研究，以检验装备系统在增加知识、质量改进计划和使用循证项目实践的意图方面的短期有效性。还将收集消费者对装备系统的满意度和可行性反馈。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Utilization of research-based and safety-oriented program practices in the youth development field have been associated with positive youth outcomes, and quality improvement processes designed at increasing the utilization of these types of program practices have, in turn, been shown to improve practices, increase staff retention, and youth outcomes. However, rigorous application of quality improvement practices has not been systematically developed in the youth mentoring field. One barrier to the utilization of a quality improvement process was the lack of standards and benchmarks for the field, which have now been created. A second barrier is the lack of an automated, standardized, psychometrically strong assessment tool available across technology platforms for use onsite; training of program staff and certification of objective, external reviewers; and a library of resources to use in training and consultation during quality improvement planning. Through advances in mobile and web-based technology, there now exists an opportunity to provide innovative and accessible assessment, external reviewer, training, and program practice resources for mentoring programs across the country. The overall goal of the proposed project is to develop the EQUIP (Elements Quality Improvement Process) system, a quality improvement tool, external reviewer training program, and web-based quality improvement system that is accessible via Internet and tablet devices. In Phase I, functionality and table optimization will be added to the existing EQUIP software application. A focus group with mentoring program staff will be conducted to obtain input regarding system requirements and QI preferences. Web-based training lessons on quality improvement and the EQUIP system will be created. A One-to-One Evaluation study with five mentoring program staff members will be conducted to obtain usability and consumer satisfaction feedback on the EQUIP web interface and process. Finally, a Feasibility Study will be conducted to examine the short-term effectiveness of the EQUIP system for increasing the knowledge, quality improvement planning, and the intent to use evidence-based program practices. Consumer satisfaction and feasibility feedback regarding the EQUIP system will also be collected.