Joining Forces:A Research-Practice Partnership for Out-of-School Time

Authors

• Julián C. Alonso Restrepo, University of Massachusetts BostonFollow
• Trevor Bopp, University of Alabama - TuscaloosaFollow
• Diedre F. Houchen, Independent ScholarFollow
• Chanae Jackson, Independent ScholarFollow
• Sunshine Moss, Intersection EducationFollow
• Rose M. Pringle, University of FloridaFollow
• Christine Wegner, University of FloridaFollow

Abstract

This article describes the development and early implementation of the Youth Development Research-Practice Partnership (YDRPP), a collaboration between university researchers and the Better Out-of-School Time (BOOST) Alliance in Alachua County, Florida. Established to address persistent racial and socioeconomic disparities affecting youth, the partnership used a collaborative qualitative assessment to identify local youth needs, program strengths, and organizational challenges. Findings revealed that practitioners viewed academic support, mental health, social-emotional development, positive adult relationships, physical activity, life skills, and workforce preparation as the most pressing needs of youth. Programs responded through holistic offerings that included tutoring, mentoring, trauma-informed practices, recreation, career readiness, and family engagement. The partnership also identified systemic barriers, including limited organizational capacity, inadequate professional development, and insufficient attention to youth identity development within programming. Early lessons demonstrate that trust-building, shared decision-making, and reciprocal learning between researchers and practitioners strengthened both research relevance and program improvement. The article concludes by offering practical recommendations for communities seeking to establish research-practice partnerships that enhance collaboration, build organizational capacity, and improve equitable youth outcomes through stronger out-of-school systems.

Recommended Citation

Alonso Restrepo, Julián C.; Bopp, Trevor; Houchen, Diedre F.; Jackson, Chanae; Moss, Sunshine; Pringle, Rose M.; and Wegner, Christine (2026) "Joining Forces:A Research-Practice Partnership for Out-of-School Time," Journal of Youth Development: Vol. 21: Iss. 3, Article 22.
Available at: https://open.clemson.edu/jyd/vol21/iss3/22