About This Toolkit

With support from The Wallace Foundation and the Susan Crown Exchange, our team of applied youth development researchers developed the Ready to Implement Toolkit for out-of-school time (OST) leaders and staff. 

We employed a rigorous, field-driven approach to conceptualizing readiness in OST programs. Our process involved establishing expert advisory groups of field leaders and practitioners, conducting an extensive literature review, and hosting focus groups and interviews with OST leader and staff experts. 

Then, we applied what we learned to develop this online toolkit, Ready to Implement, that includes a readiness assessment and automatic reporting so practitioners can use their own data to develop their readiness for implementation. 

This toolkit was developed with support from the field to create something useful for the field. We are deeply grateful to our many partners that supported the Ready to Implement development work. 

 

OST Experts & Advisory Group Memebrs

  • Becca G., YMCA of the Pines
  • Chuck S., YMCA of Florida’s First Coast
  • Dan C.-V., Say Yes Buffalo
  • Esther G., READ 718
  • Gabrielle G., Muskegon YMCA
  • Kim K., YMCA of the Triangle
  • Kwamara T., TEC, LLC
  • Dr. Lolita C., Youth Guidance
  • Lora Z., Venture Outdoors
  • Marcus F. South Side Help Center
  • Paul C., UNICEF USA
  • Tamiko L., Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo
  • Teresa C., 21st CCLC Lights ON for Learning, East Moline School District 37-Illinois
  • Joe Bertoletti, Weikart Center
  • Wendy Castillo, National Urban League
  • Jenette Claassen, Playworks
  • Brittany Cook, Wandersman Center
  • Heidi Ham, National AfterSchool Association
  • Jess Jackson, J Jackson Consulting
  • Deborah Moroney, American Institutes for Research
  • David Osher, American Institutes for Research
  • Lauren Puzen, Harmony SEL
  • Victor Rivera, YMCA USA
  • Tom Akiva, University of Pittsburgh
  • Mary Arnold, 4-H
  • Ken Anthony, Connecticut After School Network
  • Joe Bertoletti, Weikart Center
  • Jeff Davis, California Afterschool Network
  • Ann Durham, Providence After School Alliance
  • Terri Ferinde, Collaborative communications
  • Lisa Gomi Hui, Boston After School & Beyond
  • Georgia Hall, National Institute on Out-of-School time
  • Heidi Ham, National AfterSchool Association
  • Seana Hasson, YMCA USA
  • Brenda McLaughlin, The Learning Agenda
  • Melissa Mister, After School Matters
  • Deborah Moroney, American Institutes for Research
  • Meg Pitman, Boys & Girls Clubs of America
  • Lauren Puzen, Harmony SEL
  • Haviland Rummel, Susan Crown Exchange
  • Autumn Saxton-Ross, National Recreation and Park Association
  • Polly Singh, Wallace Foundation
  • Alicia Wilson-Ahlstrom, Forum for Youth Investment

About Us

Established in 1946,  American Institutes for Research (AIR) is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance both domestically and internationally. As one of the largest behavioral and social science research organizations in the world, AIR is committed to empowering communities and institutions with innovative solutions to the most critical challenges in health, workforce, international development, and education. 

Stop and learn about readiness.