Youth Voice in Action: Program Survey Results for Fiscal Year 2024-25

NextUp not only increases access to afterschool and summer programs, but we also use assessment tools to monitor continuous program quality improvement, safety, and more.

When we talk about the quality and safety of programs, it reaches far beyond compliance and keeping youth occupied. We want to know if youth are:

• Connecting with trusted adults who support their goals and interests
• Have opportunities to gain leadership skills and practice social emotional learning
• Are building positive relationships in physically and psychologically safe environments

This is why we use SAYO as a tool to help measure youth program outcomes.

What is SAYO?  

The Survey of Academic and Youth Outcomes (SAYO-Y) is a research grounded tool that captures youth experiences in out-of-school time (OST) programs. Youth completed the survey at the conclusion of their program reflecting on their overall competencies, social and physical environments, personal growth, and future outlook.  

Why it matters: SAYO is unique because it centers youth perspectives, giving us direct insight into how programs impact their daily experiences and long-term goals.  

Why We Use SAYO-Y

• To center and amplify youth voice in program quality improvement.  
• To help providers understand their impact through the eyes of youth.  
• To connect daily experiences in OST programs with long-term outcomes like academic success, leadership, and future aspirations.  

How We Organize the Data  

Youth give their responses to 34 questions. Responses are then grouped into four research-grounded categories:  

• Safety and Support
• Autonomy and Leadership
• Competencies (academic, social, and goal-setting)  
• Future Outlook and Retrospective Experience  

What We Learned This Year

The following data, collected via survey, reflects youth’s thoughts about their afterschool and summer programs running from July 2024 – June 2025. 

Safety and Support 

• Overall Safety: 96% of youth reported feeling safe in their program.

• Adult Support: 
  • 93% said an adult cares about their ideas
  • 97% said there is an adult they listen to and respect.
• Healthy Challenge: 88% felt challenged in a healthy way.
   
• Peer Climate:
  • 72% said peers are respectful
  • 80% said teasing was not common
  • 86% said peers would help them if upset
  • 76% said peers listen to them.

Takeaway (Safety and Support): Adults provide strong support and emotionally and physically safe environments, but positive peer relationships remain an area for growth.  

Autonomy and Leadership 

• Overall: 60% of youth reported opportunities for leadership.  

• Idea Generation: 78% said they can suggest new activities.  

• Decision-Making: 63% said they help with rules and decisions.  

• Activity Planning and Leading:
  • 65% said they help plan activities
  • 70% said they’ve led an activity.  

Takeaway (Autonomy and Leadership): Providers should co-create opportunities for youth voice and choice within their programs in ways that reflect the desires of the youth themselves. 

Competencies (Current Skills) 

• Academic:
  • 97% try new things even when hard
  • 96% say they are good problem-solvers.  

• Social:
  • 92% report strong social skills
  • 95% say they get along well with peers
  • 90% say it’s easy to join new groups.  

• Goal-Setting: 96% report setting and working toward goals.  

Takeaway (Current Skills): Youth see themselves as confident, capable, and motivated to learn and grow. 

Retrospective Experience and Future Outlook 

• Academic Growth: 87% said programs helped them try harder or do better in school.  

• Self-Confidence: 95% said programs improved their self-esteem and helped them discover talents and interests.  

• Future Outlook:
  • 99% expect to graduate high school
  • 96% expect to pursue higher education
  • 89% plan for college and 46% for trade or technical school.  

Takeaway (Retrospective Experience and Future Outlook): Programs are shaping positive self-images and strong future aspirations.  

How Youth Survey Results Drive Program Quality  

Youth feedback highlights both successes to celebrate and opportunities to improve. NextUp uses these insights to:  

• Provide professional development for providers.  
• Conduct site visits and YPQI assessments to guide quality improvement.  
• Share practical tools and strategies across our provider network.  

Recommendations for Moving Forward 

1. Increase Youth Voice and Choice 

• Create structured opportunities for youth to co-create agreements, plan activities, and lead programming.  

• Equip providers with training to embed youth decision-making in everyday routines.  

2. Strengthen Peer Relationships 

• Support providers in building positive peer climates through team building, conflict resolution, and peer mentoring.  

• Recognize adolescence as a time of identity exploration and use it as a chance to teach social-emotional skills.  

The Bottom Line

This year’s SAYO results show that Richmond youth who participate in NextUp-supported programs say they feel safe, confident, and able to dream big about their futures. By acting on youth feedback, especially around autonomy and peer relationships, we can make these programs even stronger. 

How to Connect with Quality Afterschool Programs in Richmond

NextUp partners with local youth development agencies and program providers to expand access to out-of-school time programs for youth ages 11-19 across Richmond and in all seven traditional Richmond Public Middle Schools. You can use NextUp’s Youth Program Locator and Directory to find programs near you!

How to Support Local Afterschool and Summer Programs in RVA

You can help connect Richmond youth to free afterschool and summer programs, all while increasing providers’ capacity to deliver quality programs, through NextUp! Learn more.