Wyman provides comprehensive youth development programs for teens in economically disadvantaged circumstances across the nation.
Wyman Teen Outreach Program© (TOP)
Wyman's TOP is a national after-school program for teens whose effectiveness has been proven in over 20 years of operation. TOP is currently being administered in over 400 organizations and schools in the United States, Virgin Islands, and United Kingdom.
Based upon the principles of youth development, an approach that provides teens with the necessary supports and opportunities to prepare for successful adulthood and avoid problem behavior, TOP has proven effective in increasing academic success and preventing teen pregnancy and other negative behaviors among program participants.
Teens that complete Wyman's TOP experience:
- 60% lower rate of school dropout
- 33% lower rate of pregnancy
- 14% lower rate of school suspension
- 11% lower rate of school course failure
TOP teens gather weekly throughout the school year for open discussions about relevant issues such as peer pressure and making good decisions for the future. TOP teens also participate in regular community service learning and neighborhood improvement projects.
Thank you for your interest in the Wyman Teen Outreach
Program © (TOP). Please read this
important announcement posted November, 14, 2008.
Wyman Teen Outreach Program - Announcement on
program replication
Rigorous research and best practice review document that the
Wyman Teen Outreach Program, when faithfully replicated,
develops the positive potential of teens while increasing
their ability to resist behaviors and activities that pose
risks to their development and futures. TOP is currently
listed on more than a dozen national best practice listings
to which public and private funders now turn when
considering investments.
As a result, demand for TOP curriculum, training and
technical assistance is expanding rapidly. This is exciting,
but not without risks. Wyman has the challenge of responding
promptly to the interest and need for this vital program. Of
great concern is the fact that there is not a national
process for ensuring the fidelity of replication, without
which outcome results for teens and the credibility of TOP
may be undermined.
Therefore, Wyman has begun taking steps to create a national
network to ensure and support the faithful replication of
TOP. We will invite a wide array of TOP providers to aid us
in designing this network. That will take time. Meanwhile,
we will suspend the sales of curriculum, training and
technical assistance to new organizations.
These strategies will remain in place only until the
national network is defined. Those who buy into the TOP
during this bridge stage will thereafter have access to the
benefits of the Network, should they choose to participate.
Our goals are for TOP and the National Network are simple.
Wyman will build a system that allows for the greatest reach
of the Teen Outreach Program to maximize the number of teens
able to access the vital supports and opportunities that TOP
offers. At the same time we will offer certainty to
organizations, parents, teens, funders, and evaluators that
the Teen Outreach Program will be delivered with fidelity so
that these outcomes may be achieved.
Your input and recommendations to the building of this new
system is appreciated. We are collecting your ideas and
suggestions via email at
teenoutreachprogram@wymancenter.org.
TOP Resources
The
“Adolescent Shorts” newsletter is published by
Children’s Mercy Hospitals & Clinics and the Missouri
Department of Health and Senior Services. These newsletters
are full of timely and scientifically accurate information
on a host of adolescent health issues. Click the link for a
list of topics and an opportunity to subscribe to the
newsletter.
New!
Wyman now offers a free download of the Table of
Contents for each of the four levels of Changing Scenes,
the TOP curriculum. You can also download the cover art
from our Operations Manual.
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