Abstract:

This evaluation research has been conducted about the after-school project of San Crisostomo parish which carries out activities to support children and families in their school tasks and to contrast school dropouts. The multidimensional quality model used refers to some macro-organizational dimensions of relational well-being generated by a service: efficiency, effectiveness, participation in planning and intervention and empowerment of children and their family relationships. The combined effects of these dimensions are defined as ‘relational quality’.It was administered a questionnaire to the educators and to children and some interviews with families were carried out. The evaluation recorded an improve in the academic performance of boys / girls in every field (for 60% of participants); improvements are also observed with respect to the method of study and sometimes also with regard to the conduct. In particular the project underlines a certain harmony between the expectations of families, the proposal of the educators and the needs of the children (effectiveness). The priority given to relationships, in a society that often focuses more on meritocracy, is the point strong of the model (rationality), with a consequent and particular attention given to subsidiarity and the care of network at all levels (team, relationship with the students, relationship with the university volunteers, alliance with families, etc..).

Keywords:

Relational quality, evaluation, sociology, after school services, community services.