Positive youth development
Encyclopedia
Positive youth development, or PYD, refers to intentional efforts of other youth, adults, communities, government agencies, and schools to provide opportunities for youth
to enhance their interests, skills, and abilities into their adult
hoods. Youth development is the process through which young people acquire the cognitive, social, and emotional skills and abilities required to navigate life (University of Minnesota Cooperative Extension). Although the word 'youth' can be used synonymously with 'child', 'adolescent', or 'young person', the phrase 'youth development' or 'positive youth development' is usually used in the scientific literature and by practitioners who work with youth to refer to programs designed to optimize these processes. It is distinguished from 'child development
' or 'adolescent development' in its focus on the active promotion of optimal human development, rather than on the scientific study of age related change .
. The influence of ecological systems theory is also seen on the emphasis many youth development programs place on the interrelationship of different social contexts through which the development person moves (e.g. family, peers, school, work, and leisure).
Positive youth development programs are most often designed with the intent of protecting youth from specific risks (e.g., substance use, violence-prone neighborhoods) or to promote specific role transitions (e.g., entry into work). Prevention approaches to youth development attempt to intervene in the lives of at-risk youth before children show evidence of developmental disturbance. Intervention approaches focus on correcting problems once they have occurred. An additional hallmark of these programs is that they are based on the concept that children and adolescents have strengths and abilities unique to their developmental stage and that they are not merely 'inadequate' or 'undeveloped' adults. Lerner and colleagues write: "The goal of the positive youth development perspective is to promote positive outcomes. This idea is in contrast to a perspective that focuses on punishment and the idea that adolescents are broken." Because of its focus on skill acquisition in the context of risk, the phrase 'positive youth development' most often refers to programs focused on children and, more often, adolescents, rather than infants or preschool children.
Major reviews focusing on the historical antecedents of current efforts, key elements of effective practice, gaps in the literature, and successful programmatic efforts have been published by the National Academy Press, the US Dept. of Health and Human Services, the Forum for Youth Investment, and the W.T. Grant Foundations work on mentoring. Other important international organizations include The European Knowledge Centre for Youth Policy
and the Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies
. Other important reviews include Positive Youth Development in the United States: Research findings on evaluations of positive youth development programs. Organizations such as the Search Institute have developed both guidelines for youth-serving agencies that promote positive development and instruments to assess their success. The W.T. Grant Foundation's From Soft Skills To Hard Data is also relevant.
, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, promotes the Positive Youth Development approach. The Peace Corps
includes Youth Development among its major program initiatives.
Youth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
to enhance their interests, skills, and abilities into their adult
Adult
An adult is a human being or living organism that is of relatively mature age, typically associated with sexual maturity and the attainment of reproductive age....
hoods. Youth development is the process through which young people acquire the cognitive, social, and emotional skills and abilities required to navigate life (University of Minnesota Cooperative Extension). Although the word 'youth' can be used synonymously with 'child', 'adolescent', or 'young person', the phrase 'youth development' or 'positive youth development' is usually used in the scientific literature and by practitioners who work with youth to refer to programs designed to optimize these processes. It is distinguished from 'child development
Child development
Child development stages describe theoretical milestones of child development. Many stage models of development have been proposed, used as working concepts and in some cases asserted as nativist theories....
' or 'adolescent development' in its focus on the active promotion of optimal human development, rather than on the scientific study of age related change .
Characteristic features
One of the hallmarks of the positive youth development movement is that it is built on a foundation of scientific research. In addition, youth development programs typically work through existing social organizations rather than focusing on individual counseling. For example, youth development interventions may focus on youth in families, schools, churches, or youth-serving organizations (e.g., Boy/Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of America) or work through formal mentoring or apprenticeship programs. In addition, positive youth development programs typically recognize contextual variability in youths' experience and in what is considered 'healthy' or 'optimal' development for youth in different settings or cultures . This cultural sensitivity reflects the influence of Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theoryEcological Systems Theory
Ecological systems theory, also called development in context or human ecology theory, specifies four types of nested environmental systems, with bi-directional influences within and between the systems.- Overview :...
. The influence of ecological systems theory is also seen on the emphasis many youth development programs place on the interrelationship of different social contexts through which the development person moves (e.g. family, peers, school, work, and leisure).
Positive youth development programs are most often designed with the intent of protecting youth from specific risks (e.g., substance use, violence-prone neighborhoods) or to promote specific role transitions (e.g., entry into work). Prevention approaches to youth development attempt to intervene in the lives of at-risk youth before children show evidence of developmental disturbance. Intervention approaches focus on correcting problems once they have occurred. An additional hallmark of these programs is that they are based on the concept that children and adolescents have strengths and abilities unique to their developmental stage and that they are not merely 'inadequate' or 'undeveloped' adults. Lerner and colleagues write: "The goal of the positive youth development perspective is to promote positive outcomes. This idea is in contrast to a perspective that focuses on punishment and the idea that adolescents are broken." Because of its focus on skill acquisition in the context of risk, the phrase 'positive youth development' most often refers to programs focused on children and, more often, adolescents, rather than infants or preschool children.
Practices and current directions
The University of Minnesota's Keys to Quality Youth Development summarizes eight key elements of programs that successfully promote positive youth development. Such programs are physically and emotionally safe, give youth a sense of belonging and ownership and foster their self-worth, allow them to discover their 'self' (identity, interests, strengths), foster high quality and supportive relations with peers and adults, help youth recognize conflicting values and develop their own, foster the development of new skills, have fun, and have hope for the future.Major reviews focusing on the historical antecedents of current efforts, key elements of effective practice, gaps in the literature, and successful programmatic efforts have been published by the National Academy Press, the US Dept. of Health and Human Services, the Forum for Youth Investment, and the W.T. Grant Foundations work on mentoring. Other important international organizations include The European Knowledge Centre for Youth Policy
The European Knowledge Centre for Youth Policy
The European Knowledge Centre for Youth Policy is a youth research partnership activity between the Council of Europe and the European Commission....
and the Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies
Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies
The Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies is a not-for-profit organisation funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations . It is a national service based at the University of Tasmania’s Hobart campus...
. Other important reviews include Positive Youth Development in the United States: Research findings on evaluations of positive youth development programs. Organizations such as the Search Institute have developed both guidelines for youth-serving agencies that promote positive development and instruments to assess their success. The W.T. Grant Foundation's From Soft Skills To Hard Data is also relevant.
US Government agencies
In the US federal government, the Family and Youth Services Bureau, within the Administration for Children and FamiliesAdministration for Children and Families
The Administration for Children and Families is a division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services . It is headed by the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. It has a $58.8 billion budget for 65 programs that target children, youth and families...
, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, promotes the Positive Youth Development approach. The Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
includes Youth Development among its major program initiatives.
External links
- University of Hope, PYD in Juvenile Corrections
- US Department of Health and Human Services Positive Youth Development Information
- Waves of the Future, report on the first five years of the 4-H study of positive youth development from Tufts University.
- http://www.youthaffairs.org
- Extension Center for Youth Development at the University of Minnesota