Preparation Budget Grant

Organization: YMCA of the USA

Program focus: Preparation Budget

Purpose: To support the integration of college access and success within the Y-USA's continuum of educational achievement programs and activities.

Amount: $250,900

Summary:

This grant will enable the Y-USA to conduct the Y College and Career Readiness Planning Project which will integrate college access and success throughout the national continuum of educational achievement programs. During this 12-month planning period, the Y will do the following:

1. Conduct an analysis of their existing access and success national programs to identify gaps and opportunities for further integration.
2. Identify and catalog local Y programs outside the already known national models.
3. Research internal and external exemplary programs to inform future strategies and shape models and practices.
4. Develop a common evaluation framework for Ys to assess impact and use programmatic data to inform on-going program development and modifications.
5. Develop an evidence-based curriculum framework that can be integrated into existing programs.
6. Conduct a gap analysis of staff and local Y capacity to effectively integrate and deliver access and success services into existing program, and based on the results determine training needs to build skills and abilities.
7. Develop an integration strategy that weaves access and success throughout all Y youth programs.

Additionally, the Y will work with external and internal consultants and evaluators to form a task force that will guide the scope of work outlined above.

Term of grant: 12/01/2011 through 12/31/2012