• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
The Sudbury Foundation

Header Right

Home News Resources Contact
Search

The Sudbury Foundation

  • Programs
    • Sudbury
      • Recent Grant Awards
      • Sudbury Doing Good
      • Sudbury Nonprofit Directory
    • Children, Youth & Families
      • CY&F Program Guidelines
      • Recent Grant Awards
      • FAQs: Working with Consultants
    • Farm & Local Food Initiative
      • Recent Grant Awards
    • Atkinson Scholarship
      • Recent Atkinson Recipients
      • Scholarship FAQs
      • The Opportunity Grant
      • Thoughts on Financial Need
    • Resources for Nonprofits
  • News
  • About
    • Trustees and Staff
    • Governance & Financials
    • About the Atkinsons
    • Renting The Grange
      • About The Grange
    • Contact Info

Say Goodbye to the Deficit Model

Imagine this scenario: You go into your boss’s office for a performance review, and he or she confirms you’re doing a great job.

Why?

Not because of your strong work ethic or your brilliant project management skills, but because you haven’t gotten into an argument with a customer. You weren’t late to the office. And you did not embezzle funds from the company.

Sounds crazy, right?

Yet that’s exactly how much of society judges children…by the negatives.

Think about it. We tend to define the “good” in young people by the absence of “bad.” A child is considered to be doing well if he or she doesn’t drink or smoke, steal, or engage in unsafe sexual activity.

It’s a “deficit” model that Dr. Richard Lerner, Director of the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University, describes as disrespectful to young people and counterproductive.

Last week, the Sudbury Foundation’s board and staff had a great opportunity to meet with Dr. Lerner, who is a leading proponent of Positive Youth Development. He shared with us a fresh vision and vocabulary that researchers and practitioners are using to refocus the field of youth development. The approach encourages young people to build five constructive characteristics (“The 5 C’s”) that will help them to thrive:

  • Competency
    Social, academic, health, vocational knowledge
  • Connection
    Positive relationships with parents, coaches, teachers, etc.
  • Character
    A moral compass, a sense of right and wrong
  • Caring
    Sympathy and empathy
  • Confidence
    Belief in oneself

Dr. Lerner adds a sixth “C” to the mix:

  • Contribution
    Working as an active, engaged citizen

Parents, mentors, coaches, teachers and youth program staff can all enhance their relationships and work with youth by understanding and examining these concepts. You’ll be hearing more about them on our blog but, in the meantime, check out the Thrive Foundation for Youth’s Step It Up 2 Thrive website, which provides a framework and series of resources to encourage positive development in youth.

Filed Under: Children, Youth & Families, Sudbury Foundation News

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Atkinson Scholarship (16)
  • Capacity Building (20)
  • Children, Youth & Families (50)
  • Early Childhood/Parenting (14)
  • Environmental Program (4)
  • Farm & Local Food (6)
  • Racial Equity & Inclusion (1)
  • Sudbury Foundation News (155)
  • Sudbury Program (33)

Footer

RECENT POSTS

Continued Food Access Support During COVID-19

In January, the Foundation made its first of round of 2021 COVID-related grants, with support for area food pantries, … [Read More...] about Continued Food Access Support During COVID-19

Coming Up: Racial Equity Learning Opportunities

Last fall the Foundation was pleased to support an assortment of nonprofit projects focused on addressing racial equity … [Read More...] about Coming Up: Racial Equity Learning Opportunities

Supporting Children After an Act of Violence…

How can we help kids process the senseless acts of violence and confusing images we all witnessed on January 6 at the … [Read More...] about Supporting Children After an Act of Violence…

Connect

  • Tweets by @SudburyFdn

Sudbury Foundation:

Sudbury Doing Good:

  • The Sudbury Foundation is a private foundation working to transform lives and strengthen communities through grantmaking and scholarship programs in Sudbury, MA and surrounding communities.
  • The Sudbury Foundation
    326 Concord Road
    Sudbury, MA 01776

    Email: General Inquiry
    T 978-443-0849
    F 978-579-9536

    RENT THE GRANGE

Copyright © 2021 · The Sudbury Foundation · All rights reserved.