Best Starts Professional Development
SOWA provides Best Starts Expanded Learning Initiative grantees with a cohort-based learning model strategically designed to guide youth-serving organizations through program quality improvement, aligned with research and best practices for positive youth development and social-emotional learning. We do this through the Youth Program Quality Intervention (YPQI), a research-backed process for continuous quality improvement developed by the Forum for Youth Investment’s David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality.
The YPQI model provides a shared learning experience with grantees, who move together through cycles of continuous quality improvement throughout the year. Using YPQI’s assess-plan-improve sequence, we work with programs to incorporate self and external assessments, actionable improvement plans, and targeted professional learning supports including coaching, training, and peer learning to drive improvement.
Grantees, both individually and in cohorts, partner with SOWA and each other to improve the quality of expanded learning opportunities provided to young people across King County. To support and deepen partnership among collaboratives, Place-Based Collaborative grantees engage in many aspects of YPQI together.
The YPQI experience has four primary support pillars:
Assessment
Throughout the grant cycle, grantees engage in both self and external assessments of their programs using the Weikart Center’s Social Emotional Learning Program Quality Assessment tool (SEL PQA), which is a research-validated observational tool for assessing adult practices in youth programming that support social and emotional learning. The SEL PQA helps staff deepen their understanding of what goes on in their youth programs and how they fit into youth work best practices, develop shared language, celebrate strengths, and highlight opportunities for growth. The data from these assessments is also used to inform programs’ quality-related goal setting, while furthering their training and coaching priorities.
Training
A suite of required trainings and interactive workshops are provided to grantees, focusing on foundational youth development skills, specific social-emotional learning skill development, and core skills for making the most out of the YPQI model. Additional offerings are available to provide choice and further tailor support to the individual needs of grantees. Cohorts engage in these trainings together throughout the duration of the initiative, deepening opportunities for shared learning, connection, and partnership over time. Grantees also always have free access to SOWA’s public training calendar throughout the initiative.
Coaching
Coaching is central to SOWA’s approach to YPQI. Our coaching is youth centered, relationships-based, and holistic to foster equity, inclusion, and cultural responsiveness. Coaches customize their services to cultivate a meaningful and relevant experience to support youth program providers, meeting providers where they are, forming authentic partnerships, and engaging in thought-provoking conversations that facilitate learning. All grantees will be expected to meet with their coaches on a consistent schedule at least once per month.
Peer Learning
Peer learning gives grantees opportunities to build relationships with other providers in the grantee community, share information and skills, and support each other’s growth and development. These include Learning Community Meetings, online networks, and special events geared toward peer-to-peer connection and engagement.