Additional Program Information

Developer and contact

Information on the history of the QOP model and current resources for program implementation are available from the Eisenhower Foundation. Web: http://www.eisenhowerfoundation.org/replicating.php. Telephone: (202) 234-8104.

Scope of use

QOP originated in 1989 as part of a demonstration program funded by the Ford Foundation. The original demonstration—which operated from 1989 through 1993—served about 125 students in five locations in five states. QOP was then replicated on a larger scale as part of the QOP Demonstration Project, funded by the U. S. Department of Labor and the Ford Foundation. As part of this demonstration—which operated from 1995 to 2001—QOP was offered in seven sites in six states with about 600 enrollees. From 2002 to 2006, the Eisenhower Foundation replicated QOP in four additional sites serving 60 students. Its current scope of use is not known.

Description of intervention

QOP is an intensive case management and mentoring program for at-risk youth. Through a comprehensive set of services, QOP aims to encourage participants to finish high school, enroll in college, and avoid risky behaviors such as substance abuse, crime, and teenage parenting. Participants begin the program as ninth graders and are offered services for four to five years, even if they drop out of school or move away. In addition to case management and mentoring, QOP provides educational services, such as after-school tutoring and computer-assisted instruction, with a focus on basic reading and math skills. It also offers developmental and recreational activities that aim to build strong relationships with case managers and peers. Participants are also encouraged to participate in community service activities. QOP offers a wide array of support services, including transportation, child care, and emergency financial assistance. QOP uses financial incentives to encourage sustained program participation. Participants are paid a stipend for every hour devoted to core program activities. They receive some of this money immediately, with the rest placed in a savings account that they can access when and if they complete high school or earn a GED.

Cost

In six of the seven QOP Demonstration Project sites, costs ranged from $22,000 to $28,000 per enrollee over the full five years of the demonstration. ³ The other QOP site (Philadelphia) had much higher costs—averaging $59,000 per enrollee over five years—primarily because of higher labor costs.