RESEARCH & EVALUATION
The impact of a youth program cannot be fully understood through participation numbers or individual success stories alone. Our commitment is straightforward: measure what matters, report what we learn, and use the findings to improve the work.
WHY WE MEASURE
Amir Staten's journey from SBNP participant to Mr. Morehouse illustrates the potential of sustained mentorship and opportunity. His story matters. But one story, by itself, is not an evaluation.
We want to understand whether consistent participation in SBNP programs is associated with stronger school engagement, greater connection to trusted adults, improved social-emotional development, and safer pathways into adulthood. We also want to learn which program elements matter most and which young people benefit most.
We recognize the distinction between our work and broader changes in Philadelphia. Citywide and neighborhood-level gun violence trends provide important context, but they do not establish that SBNP caused those changes. Understanding our contribution requires consistent measurement, appropriate comparison groups where feasible, and independent research.
OUR THEORY OF CHANGE
Our theory is that regular, voluntary participation in a supportive environment, combined with trusted adult relationships, structured activity, wellness, and meaningful opportunities, can strengthen the protective factors that support positive youth development. We are testing this theory with the goal of improving our programs and contributing useful lessons to the broader youth development field.
Basketball provides an accessible entry point for young people who may not otherwise seek out a formal youth development program.
WHAT WE TRACK
Participation, attendance, repeat engagement, and the extent to which young people remain involved over time.
Athletic development is combined with mentorship, wellness, emotional regulation, education, life skills, and exposure to future opportunities.
WHAT WE TRACK
Changes in participants' skills, sense of belonging, school engagement, and connection to trusted adults.
Young people are encouraged to take responsibility, support their peers, and grow into leadership roles.
WHAT WE TRACK
Opportunities for participants to become peer leaders, junior coaches, interns, mentors, and community contributors.
Former participants are encouraged to return as coaches, mentors, and advocates for the next generation.
WHAT WE TRACK
How often this happens, what pathways make it possible, and how alumni involvement strengthens the program.
The cycle matters. When participants become leaders and return to support younger participants, the program has the potential to build relationships and leadership capacity across generations.
THE MODEL IN FIVE FRAMES
WHAT WE MEASURE
Our measurement framework is designed to progress from documenting participation to examining meaningful developmental outcomes. Data collection methods and implementation status will be updated as systems are confirmed and research partnerships develop.
WHAT WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND
Important distinction: neighborhood crime statistics are contextual indicators. They do not establish that an individual participant experienced an incident or that SBNP caused a change in public safety.
COURTS OVER CORNERS
Courts Over Corners is SBNP's middle school basketball league and youth development program. Each season combines league play with instruction in hydration, nutrition, injury prevention, recovery, film study, and media training.
We want to study more than whether young people attend. We want to understand how participation, program quality, and sustained relationships contribute to development over time.
ABOUT THE PROGRAMDATA, CONSENT, AND ETHICS
SBNP is committed to safeguarding the privacy, dignity, and rights of the young people and families who participate in our programs. Research activities will be subject to appropriate safeguards.
Participation in research will not be made a condition of receiving ordinary SBNP services unless a separately approved and clearly explained research protocol lawfully requires otherwise. Declining research participation must not result in retaliation or inappropriate exclusion from programming.
SBNP will work with qualified research partners to determine the appropriate consent, assent, privacy, data security, and review procedures for each project. We will not claim that a project has received institutional review board approval until that approval has been obtained.
Our responsibility is to distinguish what we know, what we are learning, and what remains to be demonstrated.
We offer a community-based program model, relationships with young people and families, and a commitment to asking difficult questions about youth development and program effectiveness. We seek research partnerships built on shared design, appropriate compensation for SBNP's work, ethical data practices, community access to findings, and a genuine commitment to learning.
info@joinsbnp.org · 267-571-6674
START A RESEARCH CONVERSATIONFunding the program matters. Funding the evaluation helps us understand what the investment achieves. Support can help SBNP strengthen data systems, establish consistent measures, engage qualified evaluation partners, compensate community participants appropriately, and share findings that can improve future programming.
FUND OUR EVALUATIONYour experience matters. We want young people, caregivers, coaches, and community partners to help shape the questions we ask and understand what we learn.
CONNECT WITH SBNPEvery young person deserves access to opportunities that develop their abilities, connect them with trusted adults, and help them imagine a future beyond the circumstances around them. Support SBNP through program sponsorship, research partnerships, referrals, volunteering, and donations.
