SynthesisJournal of adolescence2025
Promising Practices of Out-of-School Time Programs for Low-Income Adolescents: A Systematic Review.
Synthesis in Journal of adolescence, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionOut-of-school time (OST) programs can have a positive impact on youth outcomes, including academic achievement and social-emotional development. However, there are vast inequities in program accessibility and quality, with low-income adolescents being particularly underserved. This study synthesizes research on OST programs serving low-income adolescents in the United States to identify promising practices in staffing, participant recruitment, and participant engagement, emphasizing approaches that foster positive youth development (PYD).
methodsA systematic literature review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines, incorporating searches of three academic databases and supplementary sources. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 118 studies representing 100 discrete OST programs serving adolescents (aged 11-18) were included. Data were analyzed to identify promising OST program practices.
resultsKey findings reveal strategies for hiring, training, and retaining staff, including the importance of strong leadership, professional development, and community connections. Effective participant recruitment strategies leverage existing relationships with trusted adults and peers, communicate program benefits such as skill-building and social connection, address barriers like transportation and cost, and deliver programming in accessible, familiar community spaces. The review also yielded seven engagement strategies-agency, relevance, competence, belonging, exposure, and safety/wellness-which align closely with PYD and are promoted through developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive activities, pedagogies and policies.
conclusionBy illuminating the "how" of OST program success, this review contributes to the growing body of knowledge of practices that can promote equity and positive development for underserved youth. Future research is needed to explore and refine strategies for reaching and supporting diverse adolescent populations.
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