Positive youth development

Young people standing on a ladder spray painting art on the side of a building
Youth participating in Under Pressure, a North American graffiti festival using positive youth development principles

Positive youth development (PYD) programs are designed to optimize youth developmental progress.[1] This is sought through a positivistic approach that emphasizes the inherent potential, strengths, and capabilities youth hold.[2][3] PYD differs from other approaches within youth development work in that it rejects an emphasis on trying to correct what is considered wrong with children's behavior or development, renouncing a problem-oriented lens.[2][4] Instead, it seeks to cultivate various personal assets and external contexts known to be important to human development.[5][6]

Youth development professionals live by the motto originally coined by Karen Pittman, "problem free is not fully prepared",[7] as they work to grow youth into productive members of society. Seen through a PYD lens, young people are not regarded as "problems to be solved"; rather, they are seen as assets, allies, and agents of change who have much to contribute in solving the problems that affect them most.[8] Programs and practitioners seek to empathize with, educate, and engage children in productive activities in order to help youth "reach their full potential".[9][6] Though the field is still growing, PYD has been used across the world to address social divisions, such as gender and ethnic differences.[10]

  1. ^ "Positive Youth development in the U.S.: Research Findings on Evaluations of Positive Youth Development Programs". 2016-11-15. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Shek, Daniel (2019). "Positive youth development: current perspectives". Adolescent Health, Medicine and Therapeutics. 10: 131–141. doi:10.2147/AHMT.S179946. PMC 6756153. PMID 31572041.
  3. ^ Connell, James; Gambone, Michelle; Smith, Thomas (2001). "Youth Development in Community Settings: Challenges to Our Field and Our Approach". Trends in Youth Development. Outreach Scholarship. Vol. 6. pp. 291–307. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-1459-6_10. ISBN 978-1-4613-5564-9 – via SpringerLink.
  4. ^ Gootman, Jennifer; Eccles, Jacquelynne (2002). Community Programs to Promote Youth Development. National Academies Press. ISBN 978-0-309-13403-3.
  5. ^ Catalano, Richard F.; Skinner, Martie L.; Alvarado, Gina; Kapungu, Chisina; Reavley, Nicola; Patton, George C.; Jessee, Cassandra; Plaut, Daniel; Moss, Caitlin; Bennett, Kristina; Sawyer, Susan M.; Sebany, Meroji; Sexton, Magnolia; Olenik, Christina; Petroni, Suzanne (July 2019). "Positive Youth Development Programs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Conceptual Framework and Systematic Review of Efficacy". Journal of Adolescent Health. 65 (1): 15–31. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.01.024. hdl:1773/46640. ISSN 1054-139X. PMID 31010725. S2CID 128359348.
  6. ^ a b Arnold, Mary Elizabeth; Silliman, Ben (2017-06-27). "From Theory to Practice: A Critical Review of Positive Youth Development Program Frameworks". Journal of Youth Development. 12 (2): 1–20. doi:10.5195/jyd.2017.17. ISSN 2325-4017.
  7. ^ Witt, P.A. & Caldwell, L.L. (eds.) (2005). Recreation and youth development. State College, PA: Venture Publishing, Inc.
  8. ^ "Positive Youth Development (PYD) Framework". www.youthpower.org. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  9. ^ Damon, William (January 2004). "What Is Positive Youth Development?". Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 591: 13–24. doi:10.1177/0002716203260092. S2CID 145180802.
  10. ^ Zurcher, Tom; Walker, Joyce; Piehl, Barbara; Ogg-Graybill, Jolie; Morreim, Patricia; McAndrews, Betty; Matlack, Mary; Fruechte, Kari; Croymans, Sara R.; Brekke, Barbara; Almquist, Patricia (1999). Keys to Quality Youth Development (Report). hdl:11299/49534.