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here to download the complete Quality Standards
document. (PDF) |
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The San Francisco Beacon Initiative has
developed these quality standards in order to support continuous
improvement at all Beacon Centers and to ensure accountability
on behalf of youth, parents and caregivers, and public and private
stakeholders. The standards will be the framework of ongoing
evaluation of all Beacon Centers, providing objective data on
outcomes that are being achieved for youth and families.
The quality standards were developed through
a facilitated process involving a wide range of stakeholders,
Beacon directors and staff, and Initiative staff. The standards
were approved by the Beacon Steering Committee, which provides
policy governance to the Initiative.
These quality standards are designed to
set benchmarks specifically for Beacon sites, that apply to
their youth development and adult programs. (A complementary
set of standards, establishing benchmarks for community engagement
efforts at Beacon Centers, will be developed through a separate
process that will incorporate input from each community.)
The quality standards will be phased in,
beginning in 2003, through a step-by-step implementation plan
that will involve dissemination to all stakeholders, staff,
youth and community members; incorporation of the standards
into ongoing evaluation of Beacon Centers; development of
annual site-specific strategic plans; and Initiative-level
plans for capacity-building and technical assistance to support
those efforts.
Every Beacon Center
will be expected to meet the Minimum Compliance Standards
and the Early and Intermediate Standards, and will be evaluated
annually to check on progress. (In limited instances related
to site capacity, the Beacon Initiative approves waivers to
particular Standards.) As part of the annual planning process,
all Beacon Centers will be expected to establish benchmarks
for the achievement of long-term outcomes which align with
the San Francisco Beacon Initiative outcome standards presented
here, while also reflecting the unique program offerings at
each Center.
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