Positive Youth Development Fact Sheet:
What is Youth Development?
Youth development programs are characterized as organizations that focus on “young people’s physical, social, and emotional growth and development; informal education and skill building; meaningful relationships with non-family adults; and fun” (Nicholson, Collins and Holmer 2004).
The State of our Youth Today:
The growing number of underserved youth in America’s communities face a myriad of adversities. More specifically, students of minority populations, low socio-economic status and complicated or non-effective family structures, often bring baggage with them to school that inhibits their ability to learn and engage in the classroom (Rothstein 2004). Minority students face a lack of effective cultural capital, discrimination and structural bias as well as language barriers for students and their parents (Persell 2008). Furthermore, students of low socio-economic status are less likely to have adequate healthcare meaning more missed days of school and decreased attentiveness (Rothstein 2004). They are also more likely to be scolded at home rather than encouraged and have fewer resources to learn outside of school (Rothstein 2004). Also, family structures, or lack there of, are becoming an increasing cause of distraction and hindrance in the education process for youth. Children living in foster homes, homes of divorced parents, or homes of alcohol or drug abusers are more likely to suffer in school, as parent involvement is positively associated to school achievement (Cavanagh, Schiller, and Riegle-Crumb 2006). Given these factors acting on an underserved youth’s education, it is no wonder why they do not perform at the same level in school as other students.
Why Youth Development is Important:
Most of the factors discussed above are broader social issues among underserved, impoverish groups in our society that go deeper than the student and the school. This leaves one wondering if the achievement gap in the classroom is really an issue that can effectively be addressed in the classroom at all. Furthermore, if factors outside the internal functions of the schools are mainly responsible for the achievement gap, it is unreasonable to expect schools alone to be able to close this gap. This is why youth development programs are important as they have the potential to target these larger social issues and provide more contact with adults who can help youth overcome their adversities. Understanding that the school can not, and likely should not, attempt to combat the larger social issues such as racism, poverty, and the family unit, that are affecting their students, one can see the imminent role of the youth development program for youth to have a healthy and successful life.
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Youth development programs are characterized as organizations that focus on “young people’s physical, social, and emotional growth and development; informal education and skill building; meaningful relationships with non-family adults; and fun” (Nicholson, Collins and Holmer 2004).
The State of our Youth Today:
The growing number of underserved youth in America’s communities face a myriad of adversities. More specifically, students of minority populations, low socio-economic status and complicated or non-effective family structures, often bring baggage with them to school that inhibits their ability to learn and engage in the classroom (Rothstein 2004). Minority students face a lack of effective cultural capital, discrimination and structural bias as well as language barriers for students and their parents (Persell 2008). Furthermore, students of low socio-economic status are less likely to have adequate healthcare meaning more missed days of school and decreased attentiveness (Rothstein 2004). They are also more likely to be scolded at home rather than encouraged and have fewer resources to learn outside of school (Rothstein 2004). Also, family structures, or lack there of, are becoming an increasing cause of distraction and hindrance in the education process for youth. Children living in foster homes, homes of divorced parents, or homes of alcohol or drug abusers are more likely to suffer in school, as parent involvement is positively associated to school achievement (Cavanagh, Schiller, and Riegle-Crumb 2006). Given these factors acting on an underserved youth’s education, it is no wonder why they do not perform at the same level in school as other students.
Why Youth Development is Important:
Most of the factors discussed above are broader social issues among underserved, impoverish groups in our society that go deeper than the student and the school. This leaves one wondering if the achievement gap in the classroom is really an issue that can effectively be addressed in the classroom at all. Furthermore, if factors outside the internal functions of the schools are mainly responsible for the achievement gap, it is unreasonable to expect schools alone to be able to close this gap. This is why youth development programs are important as they have the potential to target these larger social issues and provide more contact with adults who can help youth overcome their adversities. Understanding that the school can not, and likely should not, attempt to combat the larger social issues such as racism, poverty, and the family unit, that are affecting their students, one can see the imminent role of the youth development program for youth to have a healthy and successful life.
Go back to About CERR
Go Back to CERR Home
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