Preface; Reference; Reference; Reference; Contents; Editor and Contributors; 1 Why After-School Matters for Positive Youth Development; Introduction; PYD and After-School Relationship History; Current Opportunities to Move PYD Principles More Firmly into Practice; Conclusion; References; 2 Key Components of Engaging After-School Programs for Children and Adolescents; Introduction; Two Examples: The Center for Teen Empowerment and Dorchester Bay Youth Force; Key Program Components; Developmental Stage and Gender-Based Demands; Conclusions; Recommendations; References

3 Measuring Youth Participation, Program Quality, and Social and Emotional Skills in After-School ProgramsA Theory for Skill Development and Transfer; Program Quality; Participation and Engagement; Social and Emotional Skills; Evaluation Case Study: Girls on the Run; Recommendations; References; 4 Let's Talk After-School: The Promises and Challenges of Positive Youth Development for After-School Research, Policy, and Practice; Introduction; Understanding What After-School Programs Do; Creating Effective Programs; Promoting Positive Youth Development; Bridging Programs and Youth

How We Study What After-School Programs DoFour Issues to Consider in Research on After-School Programs; What We Do with the Resulting Evidence; Program Improvement; Informing Policy; Conclusions; References; Index