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- Youth development (13)
- 4-H (11)
- Positive youth development (9)
- Youth (9)
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- Adolescence (5)
- Evaluation (5)
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- Latino youth development (3)
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- Qualitative research methods (3)
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- School–community partnerships (3)
- Somali diaspora (3)
- Systems change (3)
- After-school (2)
- After-school programs (2)
- And Families; National Academies of Sciences (2)
- And Medicine; prevention science; positive youth development; scale-up; promotion science (2)
Articles 31 - 60 of 139
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Creating Opportunities For Young People: Statewide After-School Networks, Terri Ferinde
Creating Opportunities For Young People: Statewide After-School Networks, Terri Ferinde
Journal of Youth Development
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress made a once-in-a-generation investment in after- school and summer learning programs with the potential to provide supports and opportunities for children and youth across America. At the same time, after 2 decades of development, networks in all 50 states were poised to advise and support the investment in innovative quality programs. This thought leader piece explores impact of the statewide after-school networks, funded in part by the Charles Stewart Mott foundation, and how they increase access for millions of children and youth in quality after-school and summer learning programs. The piece makes the …
Lessons For 4-H Youth Member Recruitment And Retention From The First-Generation College Student Literature, Ashley Patricia Parra, Nicholas Morris, Jeremy Elliott-Engel
Lessons For 4-H Youth Member Recruitment And Retention From The First-Generation College Student Literature, Ashley Patricia Parra, Nicholas Morris, Jeremy Elliott-Engel
Journal of Youth Development
4-H is the largest positive youth development organization in the United States and is implemented by the land grant university system. To achieve program expansion, the century-old organization will need to recruit and retain millions more youth that reflect their increasingly diversified communities. Higher education has also worked to recruit and retain youth previously not engaged in college. This paper explores the hypothesis that there are lessons to be learned by the 4-H program from the literature on first-generation college students. Literature on risk factors and retention are presented for both first- generation college students and 4-H youth members. The …
A Simulation Training To Prepare Camp Counselors For Working With Children At Camp Hope America, Angela Pharris, Julie Miller-Cribbs, Jedediah Bragg, Bonni Goodwin
A Simulation Training To Prepare Camp Counselors For Working With Children At Camp Hope America, Angela Pharris, Julie Miller-Cribbs, Jedediah Bragg, Bonni Goodwin
Journal of Youth Development
Camp has proven to be an effective positive youth development strategy for children and youth who experience trauma and adversity. However, training camp counselors who are prepared to meet the needs of trauma-exposed youth in these settings are less understood. This pilot evaluation study provides the results of a social simulation-based training for counselors who will work with children who have witnessed family violence through Camp HOPE America. Survey data (N = 76) and content analysis from video recorded training sessions in simulation that used standardized actors and scenarios from the 1st year (n = 37) were conducted. Repeated measures …
An Enhanced Mentoring Model’S Impact On Youth In Boys And Girls Clubs, Lisa Mcgarrie, Eric Napierala, Carrie Oliver, Emily Heberlein, Brittany Taylor, Angie Snyder
An Enhanced Mentoring Model’S Impact On Youth In Boys And Girls Clubs, Lisa Mcgarrie, Eric Napierala, Carrie Oliver, Emily Heberlein, Brittany Taylor, Angie Snyder
Journal of Youth Development
Although federal funding has been provided to add mentoring to youth development programs for decades, we still lack knowledge about the impacts of mentoring on youth outcomes. This research seeks to fill a gap by documenting youth outcomes from an enhanced mentoring approach for urban Boys and Girls Clubs (BGC) in the Southeastern United States delivered by paid staff who serve as mentors through group activities and 1:1 interactions with youth. We perform logistic regressions of secondary data from a cohort of BGCs to understand the relationships between enhanced mentoring and youth outcomes related to program retention, behaviors, and academics. …
A Positive Youth Development Approach To College And Career Readiness, Shannon Horrillo, Martin Smith, Tamekia Wilkins, Claudia Diaz Carrasco
A Positive Youth Development Approach To College And Career Readiness, Shannon Horrillo, Martin Smith, Tamekia Wilkins, Claudia Diaz Carrasco
Journal of Youth Development
Pathways to Your Future is a college and career readiness program for youth in Grades 9 through 12. The program’s curriculum provides youth with resources and opportunities to develop knowledge and learn skills that help them align their sparks with potential careers, while exploring various pathways to enter the workforce. The family component includes a pre-program orientation, a financing and budgeting workshop, and take-home materials. Latino students made up 71% of the study participants. Retrospective pre- and post-program surveys were administered to youth and parents/guardians. Results indicated that the program equipped youth participants with the knowledge and skills to plan …
Using The 4-H Essential Elements To Evaluate Teen Programming, Joy Lile, Elizabeth Weybright, Pam Watson
Using The 4-H Essential Elements To Evaluate Teen Programming, Joy Lile, Elizabeth Weybright, Pam Watson
Journal of Youth Development
National and state trends indicate participation in 4-H programming declines throughout adolescence. Past research suggests factors that may influence recruitment and retention of teens into youth development programming. Washington State University undertook an evaluation to understand the needs and desires of teens in the 4-H program and make recommendations for improvements to recruitment and retention of teens in 4-H. The study sample was made up of 93 young people aged 12 to 19 years who participated in the online survey. Results included youth demographics, participation styles, communication preferences, youth outcomes, and feedback about program benefits and opportunities for growth. The …
Youth Perspectives On Virtual After-School Programming During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Candace Evans, Renita Moore, Scot Seitz, Isatou Jatta
Youth Perspectives On Virtual After-School Programming During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Candace Evans, Renita Moore, Scot Seitz, Isatou Jatta
Journal of Youth Development
After-school programs provide a range of support for students. During school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many after-school programs were also forced to close or to find new ways to provide services to youth, such as through virtual after-school programming. We surveyed 244 youth who participated in virtual after-school programs about their access to virtual programming as well as their experiences. We considered their pre-closure experiences as well. We also surveyed 8 program directors of after-school programs who were providing virtual programming. We found that Internet access hindered the ability of more than 1 in 4 students to access …
Understanding And Assessing Construct Validity Of The Social Provisions Scale: Implications For Youth Development, Sarah Osmane, Mark Brennan, Patrick Dolan
Understanding And Assessing Construct Validity Of The Social Provisions Scale: Implications For Youth Development, Sarah Osmane, Mark Brennan, Patrick Dolan
Journal of Youth Development
Confirmatory factor analysis using structural equation modeling was used to measure the construct validity of the increasingly utilized social provisions scale. This scale was used to measure social support sources and types among a sample of 421 youth from 4 Pennsylvania schools. The youth were surveyed to determine their levels of social support and the relationship of social support to community and youth development capacities. Research findings indicated an acceptable model fit indices for the sources of the social support model. A lower fit for the types of social support was found. Overall, the analysis further verified the reliability and …
Increasing Latinx Youth Engagement Across Different Types Of After-School Organizations, Fe Moncloa, Nancy Erbstein, Aarti Subramaniam
Increasing Latinx Youth Engagement Across Different Types Of After-School Organizations, Fe Moncloa, Nancy Erbstein, Aarti Subramaniam
Journal of Youth Development
This article explores how Latinx youth engagement practices vary across different types of out-of-school organizations that successfully sustain Latinx youth participation. Data are drawn from a qualitative study of 13 California organizations that each emphasize one of 3 missions: social justice youth development, “one-stop” wrap-around services, or academic enrichment. While all organizations are found to adhere to a core set of Latinx youth development guiding principles, there are nuanced differences in how they are operationalized in practice across varied organization types, reflecting variation in terms of discourse, scale, and scope. These findings highlight the need for youth development practitioners and …
Seen And Heard: Learning From Young People's Experiences Sharing Power In Faith Communities, Jenna Sethi, Rachel Chamberlain, Clare Eisenberg, Eugene Roehlkepartain
Seen And Heard: Learning From Young People's Experiences Sharing Power In Faith Communities, Jenna Sethi, Rachel Chamberlain, Clare Eisenberg, Eugene Roehlkepartain
Journal of Youth Development
Faith communities have been shown to provide a sense of belonging and community while also providing a rich environment for youth to engage and grow as leaders. Yet, few current studies have explored faith communities as spaces for sharing power and sustained youth leadership development. Using a thematic analysis approach, this qualitative study of 222 participants across Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faith communities aimed to explore the role of developmental relationships in young people's lives and their faith and spiritual development. Through the analyses, multiple and varied examples of sharing power emerged, leading us to investigate more fully the roles …
Acquisition Of Knowledge And Skills In An Online Graduate Degree In Youth Development Leadership, William Quinn, Edmond Bowers, Parisa Hadiandehkordi, Barry Garst
Acquisition Of Knowledge And Skills In An Online Graduate Degree In Youth Development Leadership, William Quinn, Edmond Bowers, Parisa Hadiandehkordi, Barry Garst
Journal of Youth Development
As the youth development field has grown, there has been an increased focus on building academic preparation programs in youth development that prepare leaders and staff in youth-serving organizations. Very few degree programs exist in preparing youth leaders. Even fewer, if any, evaluations have been conducted on the potential outcomes and benefits of graduate degree programs on alumni who serve in leadership positions in youth organizations. This study presents findings from a survey of graduates of a master’s level youth development leadership (YDL) degree program. The findings focus on graduates’ perceptions of the outcomes linked to attaining a degree from …
Learning To Improve Program Systems While Navigating Program And Institutional Constraints, Erica Jeanne Van Steenis
Learning To Improve Program Systems While Navigating Program And Institutional Constraints, Erica Jeanne Van Steenis
Journal of Youth Development
Many youth worker professional development (PD) efforts tend to focus on individualized skill development, rather than learning as a contextualized phenomenon that impacts youth workers’ everyday experiences in the field. Youth worker learning is fundamentally embedded in a broader ecosystem of programs, institutions, and systems that influence how they make sense of and implement their learnings. Examining institutionalized experiences and how they shape youth workers’ response to PD requires attention to the larger ecology of the contexts in which they work. In this paper, I analyze a PD initiative facilitated by a school district in the Rocky Mountain West. Data …
Building Evaluation Capacity In Youth-Serving Organizations Through Evaluation Advisory Boards, Barry Garst, James Pann, Tiffany Berry, Gretchen Biesecker
Building Evaluation Capacity In Youth-Serving Organizations Through Evaluation Advisory Boards, Barry Garst, James Pann, Tiffany Berry, Gretchen Biesecker
Journal of Youth Development
Youth-serving organizations seek effective and cost-efficient solutions to build evidence and advance their impact. Some common challenges include choosing data systems or assessments, budgeting and planning for 3rd-party studies, and refining measurement and outcomes when programs expand or change. Evaluation advisory boards (EABs) are a low-cost solution to add evaluation capacity and can be mutually beneficial to both youth-serving organizations and evaluation experts. Previous research suggests that EABs may encourage meaningful use of data, support internal evaluators, and/or facilitate difficult conversations among stakeholders. However, there are very few examples of successful EABs in practice. This paper shares the perspectives of …
The Impact Of Volunteering: A Multi-State Study Of 4-H Youth Development Volunteers, Samantha Grant, Sarah Maass, Rachelle Vettern, Rebecca Harrington
The Impact Of Volunteering: A Multi-State Study Of 4-H Youth Development Volunteers, Samantha Grant, Sarah Maass, Rachelle Vettern, Rebecca Harrington
Journal of Youth Development
Volunteers are vital to youth development programming as a key piece of the workforce. This evaluation measured the impact of volunteers in the 4-H youth development program and demonstrated the value volunteers bring to youth development environments. The North Central region 4-H volunteer impact study was conducted with volunteers in the 4-H Youth Development program across 12 states. The purpose of the study was to better understand the value of being a volunteer. Results showed that volunteers personally benefited from their involvement by becoming more experienced at working with youth and by learning skills that transferred to other settings. Volunteers …
Volunteerism In Youth Development Programs: Editors’ Note, Jolynn Miller, Kali Trzesniewski
Volunteerism In Youth Development Programs: Editors’ Note, Jolynn Miller, Kali Trzesniewski
Journal of Youth Development
Youth development programs are varied and diverse. Some rely on paid staff to deliver programming, but many rely on volunteers. While there is quite a bit of research on volunteers and volunteerism in general, there is little that goes in depth covering the nuances of volunteers in youth development organizations. The editors of this special issue introduce the articles, which cover themes of understanding the impacts of volunteers, volunteer competencies and skill development, support and motivation of volunteers, and evaluation of programs. In addition, a book review and a closing reflection are included. Finally, the editors close with their thoughts …
Creating A Rising Tide: Improving Social And Emotional Learning Across California, Femi Vance, Rebecca Goldberg
Creating A Rising Tide: Improving Social And Emotional Learning Across California, Femi Vance, Rebecca Goldberg
Journal of Youth Development
Given the recent emphasis on social and emotional development, many professionals who manage, develop, or influence expanded learning systems are beginning to ask, “How do we better prepare staff to promote social and emotional development?” California has adopted a statewide professional development strategy for publicly-funded expanded learning programs that is designed to raise awareness of the importance of social and emotional learning (SEL) among practitioners and build tools for the field to support implementation. The strategy—led by a partnership among a state agency, expanded learning intermediaries, and funders—combines leadership development, field-building initiatives, and program-level supports. It also complements the current …
Positive Youth Development Through Leisure: Confronting The Covid-19 Pandemic, Andrea Vest Ettekal, Jennifer Agans
Positive Youth Development Through Leisure: Confronting The Covid-19 Pandemic, Andrea Vest Ettekal, Jennifer Agans
Journal of Youth Development
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption in the lives of millions of people, including children and adolescents. Youth out-of-school time (OST) programs are essential ecological assets and their disruption during the pandemic may have a major impact on youth developmental pathways. Youth programs are one of the primary ways to promote positive youth development (PYD) and, in turn, develop healthy and thriving young adults who contribute positively to society. The pandemic raises the question of how to sustain developmentally oriented forms of youth leisure in times of crisis and, especially, how to support youth with few resources. Although there …
Shaping Positive Summertime Experiences For All Youth To Promote Healthy Development, Rebekah Hutton, Priyanka Nalamada
Shaping Positive Summertime Experiences For All Youth To Promote Healthy Development, Rebekah Hutton, Priyanka Nalamada
Journal of Youth Development
Shaping Summertime Experiences: Opportunities to Promote Healthy Development and Well-Being for Children and Youth was released by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in September 2019. This multidisciplinary committee authored report examines evidence on outcomes of summertime experiences for children and youth in 4 areas of well-being: (a) academic learning and enrichment, (b) social and emotional development, (c) physical and mental health, and (d) safety, risk-taking, and pro- and anti-social behaviors. Using a systems perspective, the committee looked at how social, physical, and economic environments interact to promote or limit access for children and youth to opportunities for …
A Mixed-Methods Evaluation To Measure 4-H Stem Program Quality, Joseph Donaldson, Karen Franck
A Mixed-Methods Evaluation To Measure 4-H Stem Program Quality, Joseph Donaldson, Karen Franck
Journal of Youth Development
The 4-H Science: Building a 4-H Career Pathway Initiative was a 3-year collaboration among National 4-H Council, Lockheed Martin, and state 4-H grantees to help more than 50,000 youth in 13 states develop STEM and workforce skills for STEM professions. A mixed-methods design used observations and interviews to assess program quality. Researchers observed 4-H STEM programming and conducted individual and focus group interviews with youth, parents, community volunteers, corporate volunteers, and professionals. Observations were conducted using a validated observational tool, the Out-of-School Time (OST) Observation Instrument with STEM Plug-In. This instrument measured youth relationship building, youth participation, staff relationship building, …
Volunteer Training Needs For Successful 4-H Stem Programs, Karen Franck, Joseph Donaldson
Volunteer Training Needs For Successful 4-H Stem Programs, Karen Franck, Joseph Donaldson
Journal of Youth Development
Informal STEM education programs through youth-serving organizations like 4-H have the potential to help youth prepare for future STEM careers. Volunteers continue to be an important way to mentor and provide programs for youth with support and guidance from professionals working for youth organizations. 4-H STEM programs present challenges for 4-H professionals and traditional 4-H volunteers who often have limited knowledge and confidence in their ability to teach STEM skills. Recruiting science experts as volunteers to lead 4-H STEM programs is one way to provide these programs, but some experts have limited knowledge about youth development and how to engage …
“The Right Tools At The Right Time”: Improving Volunteer Education And Support, Alison White, Rebecca Sero, Lauren Hrncirik Scanga, Melissa Cummins
“The Right Tools At The Right Time”: Improving Volunteer Education And Support, Alison White, Rebecca Sero, Lauren Hrncirik Scanga, Melissa Cummins
Journal of Youth Development
Success of the 4-H Youth Development (4-H) program relies heavily on the recruitment and retention of volunteers who implement 4-H programs. 4-H volunteers—in turn—rely on program professionals to continually improve the education and support systems they need to succeed. In this study, the researchers used a mixed-methods survey based on the 4-H Volunteer Research and Knowledge Competency (VRKC) taxonomy across the Washington State 4-H program to uncover (a) what education volunteers want for themselves and their county program, (b) what challenges they face in their role, and (c) what they need to succeed. The results of this study indicate that …
Commentary On Recent Consensus Studies From The Board On Children, Youth, And Families, Richard Catalano
Commentary On Recent Consensus Studies From The Board On Children, Youth, And Families, Richard Catalano
Journal of Youth Development
In this thought leader commentary, the author makes observations about the findings and recommendations noted in this special issue. The broad scope of these reports from bullying; mental, emotional, and behavioral health; English language and dual language learners; optimal development; the promise of adolescence; optimal health; and shaping summertime experiences enhances our perspective on the important developmental time of childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Two broad perspectives—positive youth development and distinctive risky behaviors—are highlighted among other important themes. The author observes that the Board on Children, Youth, and Families of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine could add …
Commentary On Recent Consensus Studies From The Board On Children, Youth, And Families, Richard Catalano
Commentary On Recent Consensus Studies From The Board On Children, Youth, And Families, Richard Catalano
Journal of Youth Development
In this thought leader commentary, the author makes observations about the findings and recommendations noted in this special issue. The broad scope of these reports from bullying; mental, emotional, and behavioral health; English language and dual language learners; optimal development; the promise of adolescence; optimal health; and shaping summertime experiences enhances our perspective on the important developmental time of childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Two broad perspectives—positive youth development and distinctive risky behaviors—are highlighted among other important themes. The author observes that the Board on Children, Youth, and Families of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine could add …
Supporting The Out-Of-School Time Workforce In Fostering Intentional Social And Emotional Learning, Jessica Zadrazil Newman
Supporting The Out-Of-School Time Workforce In Fostering Intentional Social And Emotional Learning, Jessica Zadrazil Newman
Journal of Youth Development
Extensive research demonstrates that a qualified workforce is essential to out-of-school time program quality, which, in turn, is essential for positive youth development. Recently, the in- and out-of-school fields have witnessed an increase in attention to social and emotional learning practices and programs, yet less is known about how to support the adults who are engaged in the social and emotional learning process. A first step in supporting this workforce is to build the collective knowledge around what social and emotional learning is and what the practices are that support social and emotional development. We also believe there is a …
Preparing Capable Youth Workers: The Project Youth Extension Service Approach, Benjamin Silliman, Harriett Edwards, James Johnson
Preparing Capable Youth Workers: The Project Youth Extension Service Approach, Benjamin Silliman, Harriett Edwards, James Johnson
Journal of Youth Development
The Project Youth Extension Service (YES!) college student internship integrates pre-service training on youth worker competencies with a year or more of practice experience in leading positive youth development programs for military youth impacted by the military deployment process. For nearly a decade, interns have reported significant improvement in 37 behavioral competencies, with 24 indicators improving .50 or more on a 5-point scale. Areas of greatest growth include practices critical to youth worker effectiveness and program quality: self-regulation, interaction, and adaptation in high-intensity settings. Qualitative comments indicate growth in personal maturity (e.g., composure, flexibility, openness to feedback) as well as …
The Role Of The Board On Children, Youth, And Families In The Youth Development Field, Angela Diaz, David Britt, James Perrin
The Role Of The Board On Children, Youth, And Families In The Youth Development Field, Angela Diaz, David Britt, James Perrin
Journal of Youth Development
This special issue of the Journal of Youth Development highlights a range of important contributions that the work of the Board on Children, Youth, and Families (BCYF) at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, makes to the field of youth development. This issue traces how BCYF peer-reviewed, published consensus reports use transdisciplinary expertise to assemble relevant research, develop evidence-based findings that then undergird policy recommendations, and then communicate them to a wide audience of policy makers, academics, and practitioners. These consensus reports inform and support practice which improves constructive youth development
America’S Moment: Investing In Positive Youth Development To Transform Youth And Society, Mary Arnold
America’S Moment: Investing In Positive Youth Development To Transform Youth And Society, Mary Arnold
Journal of Youth Development
As the COVID-19 pandemic wears on, America’s youth are suffering in unprecedented ways as their journey to adulthood is interrupted by multiple societal effects. This thought leader piece explores the power of positive youth development in a time of national crisis. The paper outlines the effects of COVID-19 on youths’ mental health, educational engagement, and workforce opportunities, all of which have been profoundly affected by the pandemic. The paper makes the case for increasing investment in positive youth development programs and people and highlights key areas where such programs can help support and transform youth, and in-turn society writ large. …
Linking Experiential Workshops And Increased Stem Interest Among First- And Second- Generation Latino Youth, Jeff Sallee, Ronald Cox, Rita Flores, Steven Cooper
Linking Experiential Workshops And Increased Stem Interest Among First- And Second- Generation Latino Youth, Jeff Sallee, Ronald Cox, Rita Flores, Steven Cooper
Journal of Youth Development
Extension outreach professionals are searching for new methods to target the growing population of Latino students. Oklahoma State University faculty in the Animal Science department and the 4-H Youth Development program partnered to sponsor a 4-H STEM Institute designed to promote science, technology, engineering, and math to Latino students in the Unidos Se Puede program. The STEM Institute was designed to introduce the Latino youth to college life and STEM based career opportunities. The program was evaluated utilizing the 4-H Common Measures Science instruments. The results indicate a positive impact on the youths’ perception of STEM as a career option. …
Video Review: History Of Afterschool In America, Maureen Toomey
Video Review: History Of Afterschool In America, Maureen Toomey
Journal of Youth Development
After-school and out-of-school time programs are common across the United States and are seen as providing safe and nurturing environments for children, youth, and teens. The History of Afterschool in America documentary succinctly lays out the evolution of after-school and out-of-school time programming. The 60-minute documentary is framed in 12 chapters with narrative from historians, key advocates and leaders, practitioners, and teens. An accompanying learning guide provides discussion questions, key words and phrases, and additional resources. It is a must watch for after-school professionals, youth-serving organizations, and collaborators.
University Of California 4-H Latino Initiative: Experiences Of Bicultural And Bilingual Staff, Steven Worker, María Fábregas Janeiro, Claudia Diaz Carrasco, Katherine Soule
University Of California 4-H Latino Initiative: Experiences Of Bicultural And Bilingual Staff, Steven Worker, María Fábregas Janeiro, Claudia Diaz Carrasco, Katherine Soule
Journal of Youth Development
We report data from the first year of an initiative to engage Latino youth and families in the 4-H Youth Development Program, managed by the University of California. Through qualitative questionnaires and focus group interviews, we analyzed experiences of 6 new bilingual and bicultural program staff, hired specifically to implement youth development programming to reach Latino youth. Staff reported a steep learning curve, with competing demands to build relationships, engage youth, and show results. Lessons learned may help shape activities that other youth development programs may consider in similar efforts.