Youth Development
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Youth Development
by
Elaine Johannes, Ph.D.
Youth Development Specialist
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Module Objectives
 Understand positive youth development
 Acknowledge K-State Research and Extension’s
contributions to positive youth development
 Lead Community efforts for positive youth
development
 Provide educational opportunities for all youth
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Local Extension Board
Youth Development Mission
“ Each county extension council or extension
district shall have for its sole purpose the giving
of instruction and practical demonstrations in . . .
4-H club and youth work . . . ”
(Kansas County Extension Council Law, as amended 1991; section 2-616)
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Extension Board Members . . .
• Understand youth needs
(ie., data)
• Provide high-quality
services
• Invest in best
practices and proven
programs
• Support youth worker
professional development
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• Advocate for youth, give
them opportunities to lead
Positive Youth Development –
National Data
• People 15 to 25 years old volunteer at higher rates than
adults. (Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and
Engagement – CIRCLE, 2003)
• In 2001, 87% of young adults (18- to 24-year-olds)
completed high school. (Federal Interagency Forum on Child and
Family Statistics, 2003)
• More youth are choosing healthy behaviors over healthrisk behaviors. (The Urban Institute, 2003)
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Positive Youth Development –
Kansas Data
• Tobacco use is down to 14.91%, but use of
smokeless tobacco is 17.4%. (Kansas Kids Count, 2006;
www.kac.org; Kansas Youth Tobacco Survey, 2002)
• High school graduation rates are up to 89.22% in
2006, compared to 85% nationally. (Kansas Kids Count,
2006; www.kac.org; www.kidscount.org/sld/)
• Binge drinking among youth had decreased to 16.70% in
2006. (Kansas Kids Count, 2006; www.kac.org)
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2007 Kansas
Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Never or rarely wore a seatbelt when riding in a car
Attempted suicide during the past 12 months
Ever had sexual intercourse
Used marijuana during the past 30 days
Drank alcohol during the past 30 days
Smoked cigarettes during the past 30 days
Did not eat five or more fruits and vegetables per day
Were overweight*
Did not attend PE class daily
Did not achieve recommended weekly physical activity**
0
10
20
30
*At or above the 95th percentile for body mass index (BMI), by age and sex. The BMI is calculated based on self-reported weight and height data.
** Recommended levels of physical activity: at least 20 minutes of vigorous physical activity on three or more of the past seven days.
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40
50
60
70
www.kshealthykids.org
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Positive Youth Development
• Process of growth.
• Principles that promote positive development.
• Practices intentionally applied to support youth
development.
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Process
Youth development is a physical, social,
emotional, cognitive, moral process that lasts a
lifetime.
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Principles
“ Problem free is not fully prepared.”
(Karen Pittman, 1994)
The long-term goals of positive youth development
are the 5 C’s:
Competence
Connection
Confidence
Character
Caring
National 4-H Positive Youth Development Study (Lerner, R., Lerner, J.) funded by the
National 4-Council and William T. Grant Foundation
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Effective youth workers foster
the 5 C’s through intentional
efforts that expose youth to
services, opportunities and
supports that are rich with . . .
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Features of Positive
Developmental Settings
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Physical and psychological safety
Appropriate structure
Supportive relationships
Opportunities to belong
Positive social norms
Support for efficacy and mattering
Opportunities for skill-building
Integration of family, school, and community efforts
(Eccles & Gootman, 2002, NRC/IOM)
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The Features are also the
4-H Essential Elements
1. Positive relationship
with a caring adult
2. Safe environment
3. Inclusive environment
4. Engagement in learning
5. Opportunity for mastery
6. Opportunity to see
oneself as an active
participant in the future
7. Opportunity for selfdetermination
8. Opportunity to value
and practice service
for others
(National 4-H Impact Design Implementation Team, 1999)
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Practices
Youth development is the application of
principles to a planned set of practices (ie.,
services, opportunities, supports) that foster the
developmental process in young people.
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Extension Boards
Support an Array For Youth
Positive youth development
requires that allied youth
fields address obstacles
and
provide settings,
opportunities that promote
positive development.
(Eccles & Gootman, 2002, NRC/IOM)
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(The Forum for Youth Investment, 2004)
SOS: Services, Opportunities, Supports
Supports:
Services:
Provided to or
for youth
Conducted with
youth
YOUTH
Pittman, K. (2002).
What Youth Need:
Services, Supports
and Opportunities.
Ingredients for Youth.
www.forumfyi.org
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Opportunities:
Done by youth
Extension Boards Support
Professional Development
An effective youth worker has competence in:
 Youth development (processes, principles)





Youth program development (practices)
Volunteerism (practices)
Equity, access and opportunity (principles)
Partnerships (practices)
Organizational systems (practices)
(USDA 4-H PRKC, 2004)
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Board Members are Allies
• Allies
are adults who advocate and
support young people.
•They
assist young people in their lives,
support them when they struggle, and
let them know how important they are
and that change is possible.
Source: Youth on Board, Get the Word out! 2001
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Resources
Forum for Youth Investment
www.forumforyouthinvestment.org
Child Trends
www.childtrends.org
National 4-H Council
www.4-Hcouncil.org
US Dept. HHS/Admin. for Children and Families
www.ncfy.com
National 4-H Essential Elements
www.4-h.org/resources/staff/essentialelements.html
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Healthy Youth
www.healthyyouth.org
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Youth Development
For more information, contact:
Elaine Johannes, Ph.D.
School of Family Studies and Human Services
K-State Research and Extension
785-532-7720
ejohanne@ksu.edu
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