Positive Youth Development
In 2003, the Foundation funded a partnership between Dr. Rich Lerner of Tufts University’s Institute of Applied Research in Youth Development and the Alliance for Teen Safety in Concord that introduced us to the concept of Positive Youth Development. We’ve been big fans ever since.
The premise is that the best youth development programs focus on young peoples’ strengths rather than their deficits, building both the “internal assets” (like honesty, motivation, self-esteem) and the “external resources” (such as youth programming, caring adults, effective education and supportive communities) that youth need to be successful. It makes a lot of sense.
The Foundation encourages its grant partners to enhance their programming through a positive youth development lens.
Youth Resources:
National Conference of State Legislatures
http://www.ncsl.org/?tabid=16375
America’s Promise Alliance
http://www.americaspromise.org/About-the-Alliance/Five-Promises.aspx
Thrive Foundation for Youth:
http://www.thrivefoundation.org/
Ready by 21
http://forumfyi.org/ready-21
The Forum for Youth Investment
http://forumfyi.org/
The Search Institute
http://www.search-institute.org/content/what-kids-need
Act for Youth
http://www.actforyouth.net/
Act for Youth Positive Youth Development Resource Manual
http://www.actforyouth.net/publications/manual.cfm
Mass Mentoring Partnership
http://www.massmentors.org/
Mentoring: National Mentoring Partnership
http://www.mentoring.org/
Youth on Board
http://youthonboard.org/
The Innovation Center for Community & Youth Development
http://www.theinnovationcenter.org/
Spark Action
http://sparkaction.org/
Early Childhood Resources:
National Assn. for the Education of Young Children
Photo courtesy of the Boys & Girls Club of MetroWest
