Purpose
This policy is meant to inform and provide guidance for users on the sharing and use of the data that YouthBuild Global collects through the YouthBuild Data (DYB) web application.
Data Collection
Programs affiliated with YouthBuild Global are required to enter and update programmatic data, student level data, and other information required by grants and initiatives sponsored by YouthBuild Global.
Student Data
Affiliated YouthBuild programs are to collect and report on: demographic information, educational profile and attainment, in-program services, placement outcomes, criminal justice history and contact information. A full list of data points asked is available on the DYB Questions List. YouthBuild Global does not collect student Social Security Numbers.
Program Data
Program level information includes questions about how local YouthBuild programs implement various program aspects, as well as general questions about things such as community assets (housing, community gardens, etc.), and service projects. Because YouthBuild Global uses DYB to collect required data that is associated with different grants and initiatives in which only a subset of programs participates, required data may be different for each local YouthBuild.
Data Access and Usage
Users of DYB include both program staff and YouthBuild Global staff and have varying levels of access to the data that is collected.
Who can see what types of data?
Program Staff & YouthBuild Global Data Services Team
All data entered by local program staff for their particular program is accessible to all of the DYB users at that local program. In addition, all data in DYB is fully accessible to YouthBuild Global Data Services Team. The data is accessible to this team for use in assisting users and for data analysis. No program staff can access any other program’s student or program information without permission from the other program.
YouthBuild Global Staff
An important goal of DYB is to facilitate conversations about program practice, and real-time technical assistance. In order to do this, staff at YouthBuild Global who work with programs must have access to detailed data. In DYB, YouthBuild Global staff can see cohort data (groups of students) and basic student data. The purpose of being able to see cohort level data is for Technical Assistance, Grant Management, and evaluating membership to The Affiliated Network. The purpose of seeing individual student level data is to inform the delivery of the right technical assistance, training and coaching at the right time. Additionally, grant managers need to check on deliverables by looking into answers for certain questions, sometimes by student. YouthBuild Global staff are not allowed to share individual student data they have access to outside of discussions with each other or the local program.
Examples of proper data usage are the AmeriCorps team using detailed AmeriCorps member data such as slot assignment and progress toward education awards, the Postsecondary Education team looking into the institutions in which students are being placed, and Affiliated Network staff determining eligibility for national awards.
Data Points with Special Restrictions
Viewing criminal justice history of students is restricted to local program staff, the Data Services Team (DST), and members of the Criminal Justice Department at YouthBuild Global. Student contact information is restricted to local program staff, the DST, and Graduate Leadership Department staff at YouthBuild Global. YouthBuild Global staff will not use the contact information of in-program students for any kind of direct outreach.
Research by External Parties
Occasionally, YouthBuild Global engages in research and evaluation projects in order to learn more about what makes YouthBuild successful, or to help prove the efficacy of the program. YouthBuild programs are notified in advance that their data will be shared with external parties for research. In the event that your program is a part of a research or evaluation project being conducted in partnership with external evaluators, individual student data will be shared but identifying characteristics, such as student name/contact information, will be removed.
Advocacy, Publicity & Fund-Raising
YouthBuild Global uses data to advocate on behalf of YouthBuild programs, to raise awareness about the network, and to fund-raise. Aggregate data for specific initiatives, as well as state, regional, and national data may be used to share outcomes and performance data with congressional leaders, funders, other advocates, and youth development organizations. The data of individual YouthBuild programs will not be shared for advocacy, publicity, or fund-raising without permission from the local program director.