Leading up to data collection, we collaborated with research group members to develop interview protocols that would help us learn about youth roles, stages of the policy process youth were engaged in, the structures that existed to support youth engagement, and outcomes of youth involvement in policy efforts.
Interviews
We chose interviews over focus groups to gather in-depth, firsthand perspectives from participants. While individual interviews were our preference, we recognized that to finish data collection within our desired timeframe, small group interviews might be necessary. We defined small group interviews as interviews with up to three people who had a similar role in their organization’s efforts to engage young people in the policy process (e.g., young people engaged in the policy process, organization staff members).
Our goal was to conduct approximately five interviews per organization and we budgeted for up to 10 incentives ($50 electronic gift cards) per organization. As the Child Trends team developed interview protocols based on the questions brainstormed by research group members, we determined separate protocols were needed based on three different groups: external stakeholders (those who were involved in policy efforts but not officially affiliated with the grantee organization), grantee organization staff, and youth.
Downloadable Resources
- YEP External Stakeholder Protocol– The protocol used for interviews with grantee organizations’ external stakeholders.
- YEP Grantee Organization Staff Protocol– The protocol used for interviews with staff members of grantee organizations.
- YEP Youth Protocol– The protocol used for interviews with young people affiliated with grantee organizations.
- YEP Study Information Sheet– This was sent to participants ahead of time to inform their verbal consent at the beginning of the interview.
The Youth Engagement in Policy Research Group brought together young leaders and practitioners from across the country: Jamya Clark and Faith Robinson (New Orleans Youth Alliance); Teddy DeLeon-Alvarado, Blandina Flores, and Sam Joo (Para Los Niños); Iziko Calderon and Brisia Gutierrez (Los Angeles Opportunity Youth Collaborative); Nadirra Monrose and Tony Turner (Center for Fair Futures); and Deven Rudy-Johnson, MSW, and Kyra Stoute (Georgia EmpowerMEnt). Child Trends staff included principal investigators Amy McKlindon and Samantha Holquist; researchers Alyssa Scott, Ja’Chelle Ball, Jessica Conway, and Sage Caballero; and senior advisors Karin Malm and Elizabeth Jordan (Child Trends) and Julie Petrokubi (Education Northwest).
If you have questions about the Authentic Youth Engagement in Policy Project, please contact co-Principal Investigators Amy McKlindon at amcklindon@childtrends.org and Samantha E. Holquist at sholquist@childtrends.org.
This study is supported by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation through its Foster Youth and Opportunity Youth Initiatives.