The number of incarcerated American citizens has increased significantly, including juvenile delinquents, most of them coming from low-income neighborhoods (Scommegna, 2012). The youth usually have unstable homes, inadequate educational systems, and environments where poverty isn't a choice but a lifestyle. This study aimed to explore in-depth…

The present dissertation features two studies utilizing secondary data to explore the impact of geography on access to and utilization of early developmental services, including Part C early intervention (EI) and autism diagnosis. Both studies examined the role of geography on a micro-level using geographic information system (GIS) based…

Reading interest serves as an inherent driving force for children's reading. Current research shows that family cultural capital, school reading environment, and community reading culture all influence children's reading interests. According to the "family-school-community" collaborative education model, families, schools and communities…

Rural communities in forested regions across the United States are in the midst of a transformation driven by a complex mixture of economic, policy, and demographic dynamics. This research examines, through survey results, rural youth educational aspirations in two forest- dependent regions and the role that perceptions of the local school,…

As the largest youth development organization in the United States, 4-H may be uniquely positioned to meet the needs of rural LGBTQ youth. 4-H has undergone a significant shift towards increasing access, equity, and belonging for youth over the last ten years. However, there is a specific need for research that considers the unique experiences of…

The effects of student truancy behavior are felt not only by the truant student, but also by their family and by the community in which they live. Current research on the factors that lead to truancy behavior has shown student's that are truant have several identified risk factors present during their K-12 education. The purpose of this…

Violence is a major public health concern that particularly impacts Black young adults living in under-resourced, urban communities. There is limited research on promotive and protective factors that mitigate the impact of violence exposure on aggressive behavior. This study aims to address this gap by exploring positive factors across the…

Exposure to community adversities and violence can be associated with a cascade of neurocognitive, mental health, and behavioral challenges among urban adolescents. Influenced by the bio-ecological framework, this study examines if problems with executive functioning (EF) exacerbate the relation between exposure to community adversity and violence…

In 2020, COVID-19 forced global education online. Especially in developing countries, this change presented a challenge for those with limited access to devices and reliable electricity and Internet. Whilst some students struggled to adapt, others thrived with eLearning. This paper explores the experiences of one group of students who succeeded in…

Research suggests that empathy and positive social values are important drivers of youth prosocial and civic action. However, theory and research indicate that young people's civic behaviors are also shaped by their socio-contextual experiences. Drawing on a sample of 533 adolescents from public secondary schools in the Republic of Ireland, this…

Mathematics instruction tend to center solely on mathematics or children's mathematical thinking and not also on connecting to their interests or their home and community knowledge and experiences. To be responsive to students, teachers must make an intentional effort to integrate a focus on mathematics, children's mathematical thinking, and…

Participation is a multidimensional concept that has evolved from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as one's engagement in life. This study investigated the impact that personal and environmental factors have on typically developing children's activity participation (n = 18). Children and parents/caregivers…

Previous studies on correctional education have focused on recidivism. There is limited research from a qualitative perspective on the perceptions of education prior to incarceration. This constructivist narratological case study sought to explore the lived experiences of six former inmates, four African American and two Mexican American from a…

A social justice analysis of the circumstances of African-American boys and young men (AAB) reveals a pervasive pattern of negative stereotypes, disparate treatment, and resource deprivation that augur poorly for their development. Developmental science has yielded many insights about the deleterious sequelae of racism and economic disadvantage,…

Purpose: The high prevalence of bullying in South African schools in recent times is a cause for serious concern. Bullying is traumatic and has a painful, corrosive and damaging impact on children, families and society. Hence, curbing the problem before it spirals out of control in secondary schools requires immediate urgent attention from all…