Positive youth development merits state investment

• Main Authors: David Campbell, Kali Trzesniewski, Keith Nathaniel, Richard Enfield, Nancy Erbstein
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources 2013-01-01
• Series: California Agriculture
• Subjects: assets; risk behavior
• Online Access: http://calag.ucanr.edu/archive/?article=ca.v067n01p38
• ISSN: 0008-0845; 2160-8091

In the last three decades, positive youth development has emerged as the new paradigm for youth-related research and programming. The literature provides strong evidence that high-quality youth programs can have positive and significant effects. Positive youth development is strongly associated with three outcomes of particular public significance: improved school achievement and graduation rates, decreased incidence of risk behaviors and increased sense of personal efficacy and empathy. A strong economic case could be built for increasing public investment in positive youth development programs. What is needed now is more and better data, and measurable goals at the state level.