Mathematica, P.O. Box 2393, Princeton, NJ, 08543, USA.
Matern Child Health J. 2020 Sep;24(Suppl 2):125-131. doi: 10.1007/s10995-020-02986-4.
New Heights is a voluntary school-based program that provides a well-defined system of supports for expectant and parenting students in Washington, DC, and was found to be effective at improving educational outcomes. This study explores the program elements and practices that, when used together, improved academic outcomes for New Heights participants and define a possible roadmap for service providers interested in replicating the program's success.
The study team collected data through site visits, key informant interviews, staff surveys, program observations, case files, and program materials.
The core design and implementation elements of the New Heights program are (1) placing a trained staff member in the school to provide advocacy, case management, education, and in-kind incentives; (2) bringing community-based service providers into the school; (3) giving trained staff autonomy and a strong grounding in local context; and (4) using a highly collaborative process to hire and support school-based coordinators.
Staff and funders interested in improving outcomes for young parents in school could use the experience of New Heights and the key practices that were critical to its success as a guide: (1) ensure that the program is well defined but can be tailored to the needs of schools and students, (2) engage community partners to bring services to participants, (3) hire and train the right staff who are committed to "do whatever it takes," (4) actively cultivate a culture of collaboration among program staff, and (5) develop buy-in with school staff and illustrate program value.
New Heights 是一个基于自愿的学校项目，为华盛顿特区的孕妇和育儿学生提供了明确的支持系统，该项目被证明可以有效提高教育成果。本研究探讨了项目要素和实践，这些要素和实践共同提高了 New Heights 参与者的学术成果，并为有兴趣复制该项目成功的服务提供商定义了一个可能的路线图。
研究团队通过现场访问、关键知情人访谈、员工调查、项目观察、案例档案和项目材料收集数据。
New Heights 项目的核心设计和实施要素包括：(1)在学校中安置一名经过培训的工作人员，提供宣传、个案管理、教育和实物奖励；(2)将社区服务提供商带入学校；(3)赋予培训有素的工作人员自主权，并对当地环境有深入的了解；(4)使用高度协作的流程来聘请和支持学校协调员。
有兴趣提高学校中年轻父母的成果的工作人员和资助者可以借鉴 New Heights 的经验以及对其成功至关重要的关键实践作为指导：(1)确保项目定义明确，但可以根据学校和学生的需求进行调整；(2)与社区合作伙伴合作，为参与者提供服务；(3)聘请和培训有承诺“不惜一切代价”的合适员工；(4)积极培养项目工作人员之间的合作文化；(5)与学校工作人员建立共识并展示项目价值。
