Purpose: This study aims to explore the experiences of newly resettled refugee-background high school students participating in the Teen Response program, a community-based initiative to assist refugee-background adolescents (RBAs) in navigating educational and career opportunities in the midwestern USA. Design/methodology/approach: Using a…

Although research on minority youth has established the value of coethnic spaces for safe ethnic identity exploration, research has seldom examined how youth in these spaces draw ethnic boundaries or offered appropriate frameworks addressing boundary-setting. This study uses Berry's acculturation framework to explore ethnic boundary-setting within…

Established in the year 2000, the Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education is a multidisciplinary center located at a school of social work that engages in collaborative, community-based research and evaluation that spans multiple systems and disciplines. The Center currently occupies 4,200 sq. ft. with multiple offices and…

4-H has long emphasized the importance of civic engagement and community service for positive youth development. One pathway to this ideal is youth action research and evaluation. This article demonstrates how participatory youth research and evaluation can lead to the successful implementation of community action projects. It describes the…

This white paper begins by describing recent theory and research on positive development, particularly as it applies to older adolescents and young or â€oeemerging” adults with serious mental health conditions. The next sections of the paper describe a series of empirically-supported and promising programs that are specifically designed to serve…

Describes a community-based program to divert youths from the juvenile justice system. The program's special features are (1) data collection that permits evaluation and accountability and (2) liaison with justice personnel, service agencies, and the community. (RH)

Describes a public school big brother, big sister program for lonely children in elementary or junior high school. Volunteers from high school or campus serve as big brothers or sisters. (MS)

Thousands of people around the United States have come up with creative programs that have curbed violence in their neighborhoods and communities. The programs consist of a broad spectrum of partners, audiences, and long- and short-term concerns, and they illustrate the kinds of violence that they are seeking to reduce or eliminate. The programs…

The report describes Aunt Martha's Youth Service Center (IL), a multipurpose agency which focuses on the needs of adolescents. Founded in 1968, the agency now (1978) has a staff of 40, a 21 member board of directors, 199 volunteers, 28 foster parents, and serves a 15 township region. The goals of the program are to increase opportunities for young…

This guide was developed to help concerned community members, groups, and organizations learn about major federal and state funds for employment-related youth programs and to direct them to additional funding resources. The guide discusses several types of employment-related activities that help young people become healthy and productive adults.…

A program that enables young people to understand economic practices of business and industry, originally conceived at the 1972 National 4-H Congress but expanded to include many agencies, is described. A format of four one-day modules is suggested. Businessmens' involvement, local advisory committees, and coordination are important aspects…

Almost any youth program has the potential to be hollow busywork or a vibrant learning experience. Research has documented important features of supportive environments, choice and flexibility, balancing youth and adult-driven stances, and the centrality of relationships. The challenge for practitioners is to construct and carry out youth…

Sustainability is a critical issue for out-of-school programs. Time-limited grants, narrow categorical funding streams, and difficult economic conditions leave program leaders in a continual struggle to find a stable base of resources to continue their program over time. In the face of these challenges, many out-of-school initiatives have…

The conference proceedings of the First National Symposium on Youth Violence are presented in terms of the program objectives, i.e., to identify successful youth involvement programs and to develop positive strategies for decreasing violence. This monograph provides the program schedule and texts and summaries of various speeches on the topics of…

The juvenile diversion program, Special Emphasis Memphis-Metro Youth Diversion Project, is described. The following areas of concern are addressed: (1) the juvenile justice system in Memphis prior to diversion; (2) project philosophy and community support-building efforts; and (3) implementation efforts therough the juvenile court, community…