On September 23, funders gathered in Minneapolis for the Grantmakers for Children, Youth, and Families (GCYF) 2009 Fall Forum, Leadership in the Storm:  Investing in Outcomes for Children, Youth & Families. Camp Fire USA Minnesota Council was honored to share our story of achieving exemplary program quality with Forum participants.
 
This year's Forum was GCYF's 24th annual gathering and focused on how to best serve children, youth and families in the current economic environment. Faced with decreased budgets, grantmakers are asking important questions about youth program quality. Grantmakers want to know that the dollars they invest in programs lead to positive outcomes for youth. Using research-based curriculum, highly trained staff, and rigorous evaluation tools, Camp Fire consistently delivers and is recognized for its top quality programs. 
 
The McKnight Foundation understands the importance of quality youth development. Tom Miller, Program Officer for The McKnight Foundation, developed and moderated a session at the GCYF Fall Forum, "Youth Development Programs:  Do You Know Quality When You See It?" Recognizing Camp Fire's commitment to and achievements in providing top quality programs, Miller invited Camp Fire to participate in the session. Alongside Deborah Moore with the Minnesota Youth Work Institute and Dr. Charles Smith with the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation, Ge Xiong, Camp Fire's VP of Community Programs, discussed the traits of quality youth development with session participants and shared how Camp Fire ensures the quality of its programs.
 
"While grantmakers were interested in learning about national research and professional development related to youth program quality, they were very eager to hear Camp Fire's example of how to implement the research findings in everyday practice...kind of where the rubber meets the road," Miller says. "Camp Fire's commitment to quality improvement efforts elevates the practices of all of their staff, by involving them in program observation, coaching, feedback, and action planning."

Since 2007, Camp Fire has used the Youth Program Quality Assessment (YPQA) tool to measure program quality at the point of service, or the interactions that occur between youth and adult club leaders. "When Camp Fire first began using the tool, we found that Camp Fire did a great job of providing youth with safe, supportive environments," Ge explains. "We also learned that we scored lower in engaging and interacting with youth. So, we immediately took action to improve how we engage youth."
 
Research shows that qualified and well trained staff are critical to effectively engaging youth. Over the next two years, Camp Fire restructured the club program department to provide stronger support for frontline staff. Program managers developed rigorous and responsive trainings for frontline staff that teach them how to engage youth in making decisions about what and how they learn. Frontline staff now learn about the YPQA and its impact, and they receive individualized coaching from program managers, who help them identify strengths and areas they can improve.
 
Camp Fire's new approach works. "The double bottom line is that Camp Fire's youth workers are increasing their knowledge and professional skills, while youth participants are benefiting from higher quality programs," Miller says. Today, 100% of Camp Fire clubs meet YPQA standards of quality. They are safe, supportive and include many examples of quality youth engagement every day. Camp Fire youth reflect on their own learning and give feedback about the program. They plan ahead for their future. They learn how the choices they make today affect their future - and they practice making choices within their club program. They are not just future leaders, they are leaders today.