Resource Guides:Youth Development
 

Youth Development

Services that Support School-Aged Youth and Their Families

As young people go through the important process of finding their way to adulthood, communities, families and programs involved in youth development are working toward establishing positive results in the lives of youth. Youth development is about the people, programs, organizations and systems that support the social, emotional, intellectual and physical growth of youth and their families. Youth development may look like any of the following services:

  • An adult who volunteers time to mentor or tutor a young person;
  • A school that partners with community-based organizations to keep its doors open to provide all youth a safe, supervised place to be with homework support, activities, physical and mental health services;
  • A leadership development program that offers rival gang members neutral territory where they can relate to one another as individuals and build skills;
  • A county government that engages youth in the policy making process through youth councils and youth positions in government departments;
  • A religious institution that provides youth access to computers and the necessary training; and
  • A local business which employs youth in meaningful and relevant work.
    (from Center for Youth Development and Policy Research, AED)
    Advisor Tracey Webb, Montgomery County Collaboration Council