What is Positive Youth Development?

Based on the literature, the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs, a collaboration of twelve federal departments and agencies that support youth, has created a definition of positive youth development:

Positive youth development is an intentional, pro-social approach that engages youth within their communities, schools, organizations, peer groups, and families in a manner that is productive and constructive; recognizes, utilizes, and enhances youths' strengths; and promotes positive outcomes for young people by providing opportunities, fostering positive relationships, and furnishing the support needed to build on their leadership strengths.
Strategies employed as part of positive youth development can also be used to prevent, address, and protect against risky behaviors.

What Are Key Principles of Positive Youth Development?

When connecting youth to positive experiences, principles that programs should keep in mind include the following:

• Positive youth development is an intentional process. Positive youth development is about being proactive to promote protective factors in young people.
• Positive youth development complements efforts to prevent risky behaviors and attitudes in youth. Positive youth development also complements efforts that work to address negative behaviors.
• Youth assets are both acknowledged and employed through positive youth development. All youth have the capacity for positive growth and development.
• Positive youth development enables youth to thrive and flourish in their teen years, and prepares them for a healthy, happy and safe adulthood.
• Positive youth development involves youth as active agents. Adults may set the structure, but youth are not just the recipients of services. Youth are valued and are encouraged to bring their assets to the table. Adults and youth work in partnership.
• Youth leadership development is a part of positive youth development, but youth aren't required to lead. Youth can attend, actively participate, contribute, or lead through positive youth development activities.
• Positive youth development involves civic involvement and civic engagement — youth contribute through service to their communities.
• Positive youth development involves and engages every element of the community — schools, homes, community members, and others. Young people are valued through this process. Positive youth development is an investment that the community makes in young people. Youth and adults work together to frame the solutions.

Posted from Find Youth Info;  http://www.findyouthinfo.gov/topic_pyd_overview.shtml

An Introduction from EYD

For five years I have had the pleasure of working within a city to strengthen the community's ability to support the positive development of young people from infancy through the teenage years.  I was fortunate to be introduced to the 40 Developmental Assets as studied by the Search Institute early in my work in Newburyport, MA.  The research of the 40 Assets has provided me a framework that combines my philosophy of empowering young people in their own communities with focusing on the protective factors that all teens need to help them make the best choices possible in the long run.

I have decided to begin to share the successes that I have had, the lessons learned and the new ideas we have with the larger community.  It is my hope that this blog will be a platform for me to share ideas with others in the youth development field as well as parents, educators and youth leaders.