Positive Youth Development

What is Positive Youth Development?

Positive youth development is an approach that focuses on young people’s strengths rather than their weaknesses. Many adults tend to view youth as “problems” to be solved, rather than as assets who can contribute much to their communities. The term “youth development” often refers to a specific approach to working with young people in which youth are actively engaged in their own development and are positively involved in their communities. Community organizations and programs that use this approach create environments in which young people thrive.

There are eight important features of community programs that promote positive youth development. Programs with these features can help young people develop important assets, such as good health habits, success in school, and attachment to positive influences such as schools, religious organizations, and community-based youth programs. These important features of programs include:

• Promoting a sense of safety;
• Providing appropriate structure;
• Creating supportive relationships;
• Providing opportunities to belong;
• Providing positive social norms, such as rules for behavior;
• Giving youth responsibilities and meaningful challenges;
• Providing opportunities for skill building; and
• Coordinating family, school, and community programming.

Positive youth development is an ongoing and intentional process. Young people need supports such as acceptance, high expectations, affection, and warmth. They also need opportunities to explore, create, contribute, and belong. Finally, they need relationships with parents, relatives, teachers, coaches, and other caring adults.