AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS - BEST PRACTICES

Community Programs to Promote Youth Development
The National Academy of Sciences book concedes that we don't know as much as we'd like from research to identify the specific assets and environments that help adolescents develop into healthy, productive adults, but we do know enough to continue to support community programs that help youth meet universal needs like feeling competent, being socially connected and having one's physical needs taken care of.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10022.html?onpi_listserv021502

RAND Reviews After School evaluation Research
After-school programs have expanded faster than systematic evaluation research on best practices for such programs, but the RAND review of the research found strong preliminary evidence for ensuring the programming is flexible, establishing and maintaining a favorable emotional climate and providing a sufficient variety of activities.
http://www.rand.org/publications/RB/RB2505/