My FRIENDS Youth Program Evaluation

4. Program Evaluation

4.1 Research evaluation question

- This outcome evaluation will look at short-term impacts of the program on students. It will look to answer the following question: did the My FRIENDS Youth program contribute to students’ ability to effectively cope with new challenges and stresses? 4.2 Theoretical framework

- The evaluation will be non-experimental. Specifically, a qualitative evaluation that takes an interpretive approach will be employed.

- Garnering students’ takeaways from the program and how they apply skills they learned from the program to their everyday lives will be important to answer to the research evaluation question. This will rely on questions and discussions focused on the students’ interpretations of the program and personal gains.

4.3 Study Design

- A qualitative single case study design will

Grade 6-7 students who have taken part in the My FRIENDS Youth program and teachers who have taught this program level will be recruited.

- 3 classes of students (15-20 students per class) and their associated teachers from participating schools across BC will be sampled.

- The youth participants will be given information in a language understandable to them to allow them to make an informed decision about participation before the evaluation commences (Einarsdóttir, 2007). However, since the youth are underage, youths’ parents will provide written informed consent.

4.3.3 Data Collection

- Data will be collected via semi-structured group interviews with students, in-depth interviews with teachers, and document reviews.

- Pre and post intervention interviews will take place. Interviews, before the program is implemented in a classroom, will be conducted and focus on students’ present stress/anxiety levels and coping mechanisms. Post-interviews will occur a month after the program has ended and focus on changes to mental health and strategies to cope with new