Claims successful institutionalization of emancipation programs for youths in foster care will depend on a variety of factors, including astute political opposition to the current administration, production of accurate outcome data from the programs, community acceptance, and agency change. Contends independent living is a healthy goal for…

A literature review synthesized recommendations of 58 reports for improving juvenile justice. Extension implications include the following: focus on meaningful youth programming with opportunities for healthy social interaction, multilevel teams and collaborations, attention to different needs of urban and rural youth, and creative approaches to…

A majority of 151 4-H members felt the program gave them good relationships with adults; most had 22 of 40 assets (internal qualities and external supports) needed for resilience and prevention of at-risk behaviors. Use of the asset framework was recommended for youth program development. (SK)

Reviews achievements during the first 50 years of 4-H club work, including volunteer leadership development, funding support, and response to society's needs during the war years. Demonstrates how 4-H has changed to meet societal needs while remaining true to the original mission. (SK)

Introduces a special issue on youth, discussing current youth-focused therapeutic recreation research and practice, comparing this issue with another theme journal on youth (emphasizing the roles of professional preparation and professional organizations), examining the role of therapeutic recreation and adventure therapy, and noting theoretical…

Discusses the effectiveness of mentoring programs in reducing the dropout rate and helping students avoid drugs and alcohol. Describes Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, the nation's oldest and largest youth mentoring program. Includes 16 steps for setting up a school-based mentoring program. (JOW)

During the past two decades, prevention specialists have responded to concerns about youthful substance use by developing a variety of programs. The most effective of these programs have been based upon our understanding of the risk and protective factors involved. While student-athletes generally share the same level of risk as other high school…

Recently the author has been experimenting with juxtaposing events from his life before and after his years as a youthworker with his experience as a youthworker in fictitious narratives that ring true with his experiences. The author's goal is to explore how these experiences are intertwined. A few members of their research group have also been…

To address the economic crisis facing the country, the President signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) into law on February 17, 2009. This sweeping legislation provides $789 billion to jumpstart the economy and boost employment. This act includes $463 billion in new spending and $326 billion in tax relief directed at those…

This newsletter, published five times a year, features articles on issues of concern to adult, family, and youth literacy practitioners, as well as recommended resources, announcements, and teaching strategies. This issue includes: (1) Pushing for Change (Jon Steinberg); (2) Putting the GED to Work (Jill Poklemba); (3) Community Education Pathways…

This commentary highlights the work of the Collaborative for Building After-School Systems (CBASS), a collaborative of mature, city and county-wide nonprofit OST intermediaries, to develop and adopt common youth-, program- and system-level measures that are easy and cost-effective for local systems to implement. By agreeing to adopt and publicly…

Multiracial youth activism groups, based in working class and poor neighborhoods, seek to improve social conditions by organizing grassroots campaigns. Campaigns such as these, which require sophisticated planning, organizing, and advocacy skills, are noteworthy not just for their political impact, but also because of the insights they provide…

Authority is an important component of adult-youth relations. Little work has been done exploring authority outside of families and classrooms. This article consolidates findings from two studies of urban after-school programs. The article examines youths' experiences of authority in after-school programs, compares those with their reports of…

The "National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program" is a residential education and training program designed for youth ages 16 to 18 who have dropped out of or been expelled from high school. During the 22-week residential period, participants are offered GED preparation classes and other program services intended to promote positive youth…

Citizenship is an important part of the development of young people. By enabling them to learn about their rights and responsibilities, to understand how society works, and develop knowledge and understanding of social and political issues, citizenship prepares them for dealing with the challenges they face in life. Through citizenship, young…