Nature-based youth programming combines the benefits of being outside and active with opportunities for deeper learning through authentic, hands-on, real-world projects. This interactive brief features three nature-based youth programs and highlights examples of how these programs are bringing the project-based approach to life. ...
Child welfare systems in the United States are intended to ensure that children are safe, cared for within stable and loving forever families, and able to thrive in childhood and beyond. This work is both complex and critical, and these systems face a number of ongoing challenges. This blog provides ...
More than 45 million Americans live in rural areas. Rural residents often encounter barriers to healthcare, including provider shortages or traveling long distances. AIR leverages expertise in data analysis, technical assistance, human-centered design and stakeholder engagement to understand and help solve the healthcare challenges facing rural communities. ...
This spotlight takes a look at the history of Title I, how the program has changed over time, and how it affects children, schools, families and education policy. Experts weigh in on the program's past and future in interviews, briefs, and blogs.
Contributing and working alongside Native Nations, AIR has a deep commitment to engaging communities, fostering shared vision and values, building capacity, and developing strategic alliances to achieve sustainable systems change in Indian Country.
During the past 20 years, the afterschool field has been held accountable in varying ways—first, on the ability to provide safe places for young people to spend time while their parents work; then, on success in helping to improve participants’ academic achievement as a supplement to the school day. This ...
Under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, CMS awarded 20 states planning grants to increase their capacity to provide community-based mobile crisis intervention services for Medicaid individuals. Building on work that started as part of the ARP National Evaluation, AIR summarized awardee state use of planning grants through a ...
The expanded learning field continues to bring multiple stakeholders together to advance program quality and research. This article from the Journal of Expanded Learning Opportunities features a dialogue on the topic of program quality in expanded learning programs between Michael Funk, afterschool division director for the California Department of Education, ...
Zero-tolerance school policies that remove youth from the classroom are resulting in an increasing number of students failing to complete high school, and in unnecessary involvement in the juvenile justice system. AIR has developed an evidence-based framework to address the issue across educational settings. ...
Using the Internet is the norm for today’s youth. AIR was commissioned by the Pew Internet & American Life Project to conduct a qualitative study of the attitudes and behaviors of Internet-using public middle and high school students drawn from across the country.