Study shows need for local service

A new report by a student research group suggests local youth organizations need to reach beyond after-school programs and develop community-service opportunities.
After months of research, the Waltham Active Research Project, a group of upperclassmen from Waltham High, and underclassmen and faculty from Brandeis University, says that while available after-school programs in the city are valuable to middle-school students, they need to do more to reach a wider audience.
``One of the things that struck me is the continual need for all youth development agencies to keep marketing their programs,'' said Jennifer Aldworth, executive director of the Waltham Boys & Girls Club. ``You can never really underestimate the importance of continually marketing your program.''
Waltham Partnership for Youth proposed the idea for the research group to examine local non-school programs for middle schoolers last December. The group has since recommended that the Partnership for Youth work to strengthen existing programs, and clarify what is available, including transportation and hours.
The report, submitted last week to the Waltham Partnership for Youth, suggests groups develop more community-service based opportunities for kids in middle school.
Using the Five Promises as identified by America's Promise, a network that works with volunteer action for children and youth, local programs fell short. According to the report, available programs in Waltham provide healthy snacks and exercise, caring and trained staff, safe environments, and effective learning opportunities - four of the five key elements. However, the programs lacked - community services.
``There are very limited opportunities for service-learning for that age group,'' said Marina Bartley, executive director for the Waltham Partnership for Youth. ``It not only benefits the participants because they're learning something, but it benefits the community at large. It's a win-win for everybody.''
Last month, the research group presented their findings of the project during an open forum at the Waltham Public Library. To follow up, they compiled the written report to sum up their research in a concrete document, displaying parent and student perspectives and actual visits to the program sites.
``I think the quality is very, very high,'' said Larry Bailis, an associate professor at Brandeis's Heller school and the research group's adviser.
``I think the students learned a lot while they were doing the research,'' he said. ``It's quality research. In fact, what the students were able to do is not only look at the numbers, but also look at the experience they had. I think it's a perfect example of a partnership where a university and high school work together for a common need.''
Through interviews with about 467 middle school students, the research group found about 75 percent of students say they are aware of the city's available non-school programs, such as Mall Mania, Waltham YMCA, Waltham Parks and Recreation, and the Waltham Boys & Girls Club, but about 40 percent of Kennedy Middle School students, and 51 percent from McDevitt said they don't participate.
Likewise, surveys with parents revealed they feel there is not enough details about the programs to make a proper decision, and 33 percent said their children weren't interested.
Also, most participation in local programs takes place in the middle of the week, and declines toward the end. WARP also found that an abundant number of middle school boys and girls would like to see more after school sports activities available.
While there are several youth sports and programs already available, few of them are ``drop-in'' accessible, and require membership. As a result, the research group recommends more drop-in like activities that would be open to anyone, and not just members.
Bartley said the report, which is available for viewing at the library, is a large step forward in widening people's eyes to what can be made available for kids in the near future.
``Hopefully, across the community this study will be put to good use and we'll get more young people actively involved,'' Barley said. ``It's up to everybody to take the next step and decide what they want to do with it.''
Matt Perkins can be reached at 781-398-8009 or at mperkins@cnc.com.