Helpful Resources
Youth Development Information | Research | Presentations | Links
What is a youth development program?
The goal of youth development programs is to help youth become fully prepared for transition to adulthood. Youth development professionals offer youth opportunities within healthy environments to master the competencies they will need to make this transition. For more information, click here .
Ages and Stages
How do youth develop and grow? Click here to learn more .
Eight Essential Elements of 4-H:
A list of characteristics 4-H programs strive to incorporate in order to be intentional about promoting positive youth development. For a comprehensive overview and several helpful web resources, click here.
Indicators Spreadsheet
A helpful chart to determine what the Eight Essential Elements might look like in a variety of educational settings from camps, club meetings, school enrichment activities, etc.
Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets
“Concrete, common sense, positive experiences and qualities essential to raising successful young people.” These assets have the power during critical adolescent years (ages 12-18) to influence choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible adults. Does your program promote the development of these critical assets? The Search Institute has translated their list into a variety of languages.
Vibrant Youth Groups
Why are some youth groups more effective than others? What are the distinguishing characteristics of highly effective youth groups? Kirk A. Astroth, 4-H Youth Specialist in Montana, identifies the characteristics of such youth groups and sheds some light on why some groups are better for youth development than others. Click here for more .
Youth Adult Partnerships
Youth-Adult partnerships are youth and adults working together in a positive, mutually respectful environment to achieve common goals. The partnership is one in which both parties share equal power and control over making decisions on what gets done, who does what and how. Each group contributes unique strengths to the relationship. Learn more…
Reading List
Contact Michelle Garwood to recommend a Youth Development resource to include on this list!
♦ Benson, P. (1997). All kids are our kids: What communities must do to raise caring and responsible children. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
Benson builds upon the Search Institute’s asset model in this work. He suggests cultural shifts that must occur in order to make society friendlier to positive youth development. A helpful garden metaphor is used to illustrate asset building.
♦ Damon, W. (1995). Greater expectations: Overcoming the culture of indulgence in our homes and schools. New York: Free Press.
Damon argues against the popular focus on building self-esteem in youth. Values, work ethic, spirituality, and community involvement are negatively impacted when youth are constantly indulged. Bridge-building between youth and adults is encouraged.
♦ Delgado, M. (2002). New frontiers for youth development in the twenty-first century; Revitalizing and broadening youth development. New York: Columbia University Press.
Delgado gives a picture of where youth development has been and where it is headed. This work makes the tie between the fields of youth development and community development. Important youth development research is summarized and highlighted throughout the book.
♦ DuBois, D.L. and Karcher, M.J. (2005). Handbook of youth mentoring. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
This book provides professionals with recommendations and information about many different types of mentoring relationships. The different types of program contexts are outlined. This includes everything from the national Big Brothers Big Sisters program to the smaller and less-formal after-school programs.
♦ Forum for Youth Investment
Ready by 21™ — ready for college, work and life. This is the slogan for the Forum of Youth Investment. Karen Pittman leads this national organization and her published work can be found here, along with many other helpful resources. A big focus of this organization is to impact youth policy.
♦ Gladwell, M. (2000). The tipping point: How little things can make a big difference. New York: Back Bay Book.
Gladwell examines the phenomenon of behavior in our society. He points out that ideas and behavior and messages and products sometimes behave just like outbreaks of infectious disease. Change happens due to many little events/factors all coming together to have a powerful influence.
♦ Hamilton, S., & Hamilton, M. (2004). The youth development handbook: Coming of age in American communities. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
A great fundamental piece for every Youth Development library. This text defines youth development, introduces principles, and explores the application of these development principles to context. Learn about the latest research and theories.
The Innovation Center is an organization that partners with foundations, organizations, youth, and adults to spark creative processes, build on existing assets and resources, and generate practical tools and resources. The Innovation Center believes in unleashing the potential of each unique organization and provides support to help those organizations meet the needs of their communities.
♦ Kretzman, J.P., & McKnight, J.L. (1993). Building communities from the inside out. Center for Urban Affairs & Policy Research, Northwestern University.
Kretzman and McKnight stress that youth development professionals should look at a community’s asset map vs. looking at their needs map. Only considering the needs or problems of a community can lead to hopelessness. Communities should be empowered to revitalize themselves (with the participation of youth), not be “fixed” by outside entities.
♦ Oldenburg, R. (1989). The great good place: Cafes, coffee shops, bookstores, bars, hair salons, and other hangouts at the heart of a community. New York: Marlowe and Company.
Oldenburg warns Americans that a “placeless culture” is emerging. There are few hangout places for young and old today and this is having a negative impact on the social health of our country. He gives ideas for how this trend can be reversed and how we can get away from the monotonous, impersonal, “McDonalized” society that we live in.
♦ Rhodes, J.E. (2002). Stand by me. The risks and rewards of mentoring today’s youth. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Rhodes provides a realistic look at the power of mentoring in the positive youth development field. Touted by many as the miracle cure for youth problems, mentoring programs probably have much less of an overall impact than what they are advertised to be. Positive youth development can not be achieved by a single, quick-fix program. Mentoring does have incredible value in the lives of youth and Rhodes explains what a quality program entails.
♦ Shepard, Z., McDaniel, A.K., Topitzes, D., & Calvert, M. (2000). Youth in decision-making: A study on the impacts of youth on adults and organizations. Chevy Chase, MD: National 4-H Council.
This study examines the value and power of youth/adult partnerships. The value of youth voice in the decision-making process of an organization is emphasized. The Innovation Center was also a partner in the creation of this document.
♦ Villarruel, F., Perkins, D., Borden, L., & Keith, J. (2003). Community youth development: Programs, policies, and practices. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
What does it take to create a community that promotes positive opportunities for all young people? This book provides practical tools and models for developing community-wide initiatives that strengthen protective factors, build competencies, and focus on indicators for thriving.
Research
Journal of Youth Development
Journal of Extension
Presentations
* School Standards: The Challenge and the Opportunity- PPT file
* Standards-Based Experiential Learning Resources for Family and Consumer Teachers- PPT file
* Meeting the Standard - Preparing Youth for Careers Through Experiential Learning Opportunities - PPT file
* Utilizing Multimedia and Motivational Design Research in CD-ROM Development - PPT file
* Standards-Based Experiential Learning Resources for Health & Nutrition Education - PPT file
Links
National 4-H Council
National 4-H Headquarters
4-H USA
National 4-H Afterschool
Community Learning Center Network
Nebraska Department of Education
The Dibble Institute for Marriage Education is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping young people learn skills which enable successful relationships and marriages. They serve as a nationwide advocate and resource for youth marriage education and publish materials which help teach relationship skills. The Dibble Institute is non-religious and nonpolitical. You may have seen some of their products at the Nebraska Career Education Conference.
