Common Measures

CYFAR Approved Common Measures

CYFAR Common Measures revision was spearheaded by the CYFAR PDTA Center, a partnership between the University of Minnesota and Pennsylvania State University, in order to support CYFAR grantees with their program evaluation efforts. This process included creating a new CYFAR model and the systematic identification, review, and vetting of diverse instruments to gather comprehensive data on various program and participant outcomes. These measures were selected during a rigorous identification and review process because they are appropriate for CYFAR target populations, address outcomes important to CYFAR programs, and address the need to assess system-wide impact with validated tools.

CYFAR grantees will be required to collect the following information

CYFAR data collection is a pre/post design with data collected at the beginning and the end of the program throughout the year.

Pre-test Measures:Post-test Measures:
DemographicsDemographics
Life SkillsLife Skills
ResilienceResilience
 Program Quality
 Participation
 Engagement

Measures Completed by Children (9 years and younger):

  • Program Quality
  • Life Skills
  • Resilience

Measures Completed by Youth (approximately 10 years to 17 years):

  • Demographics
  • Life Skills
  • Resilience
  • Program Quality
  • Engagement

Measures Completed by Adults (approximately 18 years and older):

  • Demographics
  • Life Skills
  • Resilience
  • Program Quality
  • Participation
  • Engagement

Measures Completed by Program Staff:

  • Program Quality (staff perception of program quality)
  • On behalf of child participants - Demographics, Participation, and Engagement
  • On behalf of youth participants – Participation

Please note all the measures previously mentioned are required. There are no longer any short-term measures. Grantees may also include additional measures based on their individual program evaluation needs.

In the table below you will find a list of the approved and required Common Measures for use by CYFAR grantees. The left column of the table includes the name of the measure and a link to a printable PDF version of the instrument. The right column provides an overview of the measures.

Required CYFAR Common Measures

Program Quality

This instrument measures aspects of the program, such as safety, relationships, and skill building.

Child

Program Quality - Child - EnglishChild Version
Program Quality - Child - SpanishChild Version

 Youth

Program Quality - Youth - EnglishYouth Version
Program Quality - Youth - SpanishYouth Version

Adult

Program Quality - Adult - EnglishAdult Version
Program Quality - Adult - SpanishAdult Version

Staff

Program Quality - Staff - EnglishStaff Version
Program Quality - Staff - SpanishStaff Version
Resilience

This instrument measures social-ecological resilience.

Child

Resilience - Child - EnglishChild Version
Resilience - Child - SpanishChild Version

Youth

Resilience - Youth - EnglishYouth Version
Resilience - Youth - SpanishYouth Version

Adult

Resilience - Adult - EnglishAdult Version
Resilience - Adult - SpanishAdult Version
Life Skills

This instrument measures behaviors and attitudes related to outcomes common in CYFAR programs (e.g., decision making and critical thinking).

Child

Life Skills - Child - EnglishChild Version
Life Skills - Child - SpanishChild Version

Youth

Life Skills - Youth - EnglishYouth Version
Life Skills - Youth - SpanishYouth Version

Adult

Life Skills - Adult - EnglishAdult Version
Life Skills - Adult - SpanishAdult Version
Demographics

This instrument collects participant demographic data including gender, age, ethnicity, race, education, employment, and military service.

Child

Demographics - Child - English (Completed by Staff)Child Version - Completed by Staff
Demographics - Child - Spanish (Completed by Staff)Child Version - Completed by Staff

Youth

Demographics - Youth - EnglishYouth Version
Demographics - Youth - SpanishYouth Version

Adult

Demographics - Adult - EnglishAdult Version
Demographics - Adult - SpanishAdult Version
Participation Level

This instrument measures program dosage (frequency and length) and length of participation in 4-H.

Child

Participation Level - Child - English (Completed by Staff)Child Version - Completed by Staff
Participation Level - Child - Spanish (Completed by Staff)Child Version - Completed by Staff

Youth

Participation Level - Youth - English (Completed by Staff)Version for Youth (Completed by Staff)
Participation Level - Youth - Spanish (Completed by Staff)Youth Version (Completed by Staff)

Adult

Participation Level - Adult - EnglishVersion for Adults
Participation Level - Adult - SpanishAdult Version
Engagement

This instrument measures participants' concentration, interest, and enjoyment in the program.

Child

Engagement - Child - EnglishChild Version - Completed by Staff
Engagement - Child - SpanishChild Version

Youth

Engagement - Youth - EnglishYouth Version
Engagement - Youth - SpanishYouth Version

Adult

Engagement - Adult - EnglishAdult Version
Engagement - Adult - SpanishAdult Version