scholarly journals Developing Youth Competencies: The Impact of Program Quality

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 29-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tegan M. Smischney ◽  
Matthew A. Roberts ◽  
Kate Gliske ◽  
Lynne M. Borden ◽  
Daniel F. Perkins
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Youth Development ◽  
Positive Youth Development ◽  
Youth Programs ◽  
Program Quality ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
At Risk Youth ◽  
University Of Minnesota ◽  
Quality Ratings ◽  
The Impact

As youth programs have continued to evolve over the last 100 years, the field of program evaluation has advanced significantly in an effort to differentiate which youth program components are necessary to promote positive youth development (e.g., Eccles & Gootman, 2002; Lerner et al., 2013). The Children, Youth, and Families at Risk (CYFAR) initiative funds a variety of sustainable community projects (SCPs) that aim to support at-risk youth and families and help them become healthy, positive, and contributing members of society (U.S. Department of Agriculture, n.d.). To ensure these programs are meeting CYFAR’s goals, a required collection of common measures began in 2011 (University of Minnesota, 2017b). This study used CYFAR evaluation data to explore how specific program quality components (e.g. physical and psychological safety and relationship building) influence change in youth competencies. It was hypothesized that higher program quality ratings would be significantly associated with higher pretest to posttest change in youth competencies. Results indicated differential associations between the qualities of youth programs, particularly positive social norms and skill building, and changes in youth competencies. Implications for positive youth development programs are discussed.

scholarly journals Horses and At-Risk Youth: An Equine Facilitated Learning Program Focusing on Authentic Leadership Skill Development

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 89-100
Author(s):  
Brittany L. Adams-Pope ◽  
Nicole L.P. Stedman
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Youth Development ◽  
Authentic Leadership ◽  
At Risk Youth ◽  
Learning Program ◽  
Leadership Skill ◽  
Youth Education ◽  
Equine Facilitated ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Facilitated Learning

Interesting and innovative youth development programs are important to further youth education. Programs focused on developing leadership skills in youth, specifically at-risk youth, are important when thinking of the future of our communities. The primary purpose of the study was to determine the impact of an equine facilitated, authentic leadership program on at-risk youth. Youth participated in a three-day equine facilitated learning program based on authentic leadership with focus groups conducted three days before and three days after the program. In this article, we describe the development and methodology of the program and specific implications for practice.

The role of positive youth development practices in building resilience and enhancing wellbeing for at-risk youth

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 40-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jackie Sanders ◽  
Robyn Munford ◽  
Tewaporn Thimasarn-Anwar ◽  
Linda Liebenberg ◽  
Michael Ungar
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Youth Development ◽  
Positive Youth Development ◽  
At Risk Youth ◽  
Building Resilience

95. Identifying Sensitive Periods for the Impact of Insufficient Sleep on Reward-Related Brain Function and Future Depression Among At-Risk Youth

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (10) ◽  
pp. S39-S40
Author(s):  
Adriane Soehner ◽  
Michele Bertocci ◽  
Anna Manelis ◽  
Genna Bebko ◽  
Cecile Ladouceur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
At Risk Youth ◽  
Insufficient Sleep ◽  
Sensitive Periods ◽  
The Impact

Participant Perceptions of Character Concepts in a Physical Activity–Based Positive Youth Development Program

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 481-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaina Riciputi ◽  
Meghan H. McDonough ◽  
Sarah Ullrich-French
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Youth Development ◽  
Positive Youth Development ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Character Development ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
The Impact

Physical activity–based positive youth development (PYD) programs often aim to foster character development. This study examined youth perspectives of character development curricula and the impact these activities have on their lives within and beyond the program. This case study examined youth from low-income families in a physical activity–based summer PYD program that integrated one character concept (respect, caring, responsibility, trust) in each of 4 weeks. Participants (N = 24) included a cross section of age, gender, ethnicity, and past program experience. Semi-structured interviews were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis and constant comparative methods. Thirteen themes were grouped in four categories: building highquality reciprocal relationships; intrapersonal improvement; moral reasoning and understanding; and rejection, resistance, and compliance. The findings provide participant-centered guidance for understanding youth personal and social development through physical activity in ways that are meaningful to participants, which is particularly needed for youth in low-income communities with limited youth programming.

The Kids are Alright

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-110
Author(s):  
Almeda M. Wright
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Youth Development ◽  
Positive Youth Development ◽  
Spiritual Maturity ◽  
Development Theory ◽  
Youth Workers ◽  
Youth Engagement ◽  
Contemporary Research ◽  
Religious Lives

Discussions of adolescence and youth spirituality often focus primarily on the problems that need to be fixed in youth or their context. This essay draws upon positive youth development theory, which asserts that youth are much more than problems or at-risk. It affirms that all youth have resources that can be developed and contributions to make to their communities. This essay reviews the pervasiveness of problem-based approaches in the larger society and contemporary research on the religious lives of youth. It also calls theologians and youth workers to contribute to the shifting perspective of youth by re-imaging youth spiritual maturity as more than “adult like” and to offer a theology of adolescence which explicitly affirms youth engagement as partners with God, right now.

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