An email was forwarded to me last night that focused on the new Youth Development Initiative at Texas A&M. Here is the body of the message:
It is with great pleasure that we share information about the Youth Development Initiative (YDI) at Texas A&M University. YDI began in the spring of 2009 with a mission [...]
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Youth Development Initiative at Texas A&M
Accountability Lesson from Michelle Obama
Great article in EdWeek comparing superficial test scores to Michelle Obama’s efforts to combat obesity. Full article is here. Great quote:
“We must make educational accountability a public-health and safety issue. America was successful in nearly eradicating polio not because students found immunizations (or even the later foul-tasting sugar cubes) appealing. We stopped the dread disease [...]
Positive Emerging Adulthood Development?
There is an apparent level of research, interest, and funding available around adolescence; and of particular interest to this blog, we examine here that which relates to the positive development of youth. That is to say: that group of individuals aged 12 to 24. For many, this is the age where the skin of childhood [...]
School Bullying Summit
This week in Washington, DC, the U.S. Department of Education hosted a summit on school bullying. Government officials met with experts from across the field and throughout the private and non-government sectors to begin the conversation around establishing a national strategy to end this pressing issue facing countless youth across the country. For coverage on [...]
Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Names National Youth Leadership Committee
As part of events and announcements honoring the 100th anniversary of the late former President Ronald Reagan, the foundation named in his honor announced last week that it has formed a National Youth Leadership Committee. The committee, comprised of young celebrities, brings together individuals who epitomize success and leadership in their fields. The Foundation hopes [...]
New Center to Focus on PYD Research and Training
The University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education recently announced its launch of a new center, “Youth Nex.” The center, which will be headed up by Dr. Patrick Tolan, will strive to be at the healm of research and training in areas related to youth development and the prevention of risky behaviors among adolescents. Funded [...]
Happier AND Healthier
The American Academy of Family Physicians recently published a report that positive emotions and happy moods were more closely associated with future physical health than anxiety and depression. For a summary, visit msn. For access to the online journal, visit here.
Legislating Kindness
Yesterday, the New York Times published an op-ed piece on recently passed legislation that mandates curriculum in Massachusetts classrooms to address bullying. While we can all easily agree that bullying needs to be addressed with youth, the piece brings up an important question: is it enough, or even worth it, to teach children not to [...]
Texting, Sexting, and Everything Else
What is the data telling us about teens and mobile technology? A lot. Since 2006, The Pew Trust has been collecting data on American teens and their mobile phone use. No surprise here: from late night texts, to photo exchanges, to being in the know or out of the loop, teens rely on these devices [...]
Federal Funding for School Climate
The Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools at the U.S. Department of ED has just released the funding announcement for the $27.5 million school climate grants. Only states are eligible to apply for the 5 to 7 awards. Complete announcement is found here. Deadline to apply is August 9 — giving applicants 30 [...]
Testify!
The ‘Quote of the Week’ comes from Timothy Shriver as he testified before the HELP Committee in the U.S. Senate earlier this week:
Federal Programs for Youth: More of the Same Won’t Work
Great article posted on the Brookings’ website focused on impact of federal programs for youth. Written by Jon Baron and Isabel Sawhill, the article urges federal policy-makers to use a ‘tiered’ funding approach — with the largest grants going to expansion of the few proven interventions. Excerpt:
The American public is increasingly concerned about the [...]
Resources in Research and Evaluation
HHS recently hosted a conference, “Evaluating Community-Based Risk Prevention Programs for Youth.” While the primary audience was researchers, evaluators, and program directors from community-based abstinence education programs, the presenters came from a variety of youth-serving fields. Plenaries and workshops covered topics from violence, gangs, mentoring, and physical and mental health. A wealth of information and resources has [...]
Quote of the day
U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (chair of Senate HELP Committee) at a hearing this morning on the reauthorization of ESEA:
“We also must recognize that students don’t check their home lives at the school door each morning. Students with unstable home lives require extra stability and support while they are at school to enable them to stay [...]
The examined life at age eight
It’s impossible to turn on the evening news or read any paper without hearing about bullies in schools, the dangers of social networking sites, and a plethora of other risky behaviors scouring playgrounds and locker rooms. One school in Massachusetts might have an idea: instead of teaching the students to say no to drugs on [...]
Expert Panels Announced for Listening and Learning About Early Learning
Today the U.S. Department of Education announced the panels of experts who be presenting at the Listening and Learning About Early Learning meetings.
Each of the four meetings will focus on one topic. Below are dates, places, and names of panel members for the meetings, which will run from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Understanding Preschool – [...]
Teaching Determination
In a world where kids are often shuffled from soccer practice to ballet rehearsal to club meetings and everything else, we often overlook the purpose of it all. Sure. The old “college admissions essay” is important. But is something missing? Last week, the New York Times ran a story that it might not just be [...]
The age-old adolescent problem: Underage drinking
The American Academy of Pediatrics reminded policymakers and parents alike of the need today to revisit the short-term and long-term effects of underage drinking. In a world where parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors are attempting to help youth make positive choices and not bully each other on facebook or text their friends while they’re driving, here [...]
PYD and Teen Pregnancy Prevention
In fiscal year (FY) 2010 appropriations, Congress funded the President’s proposed new community Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative. Of the funds made available, not less than $75 million is for funding the replication of programs that have been proven effective through rigorous evaluation and not less than $25 million is for funding demonstration programs to develop [...]
School Climate and ESEA Reauthorization
The Obama Administration’s recently released Blueprint for Reform outlines the president’s plan to reform the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). I have a particular interest in the ‘Successful, Safe and Healthy Students’ (SSHS) program included on page 33 of the Blueprint. Under the proposal, grantees will use SSHS funds to carry out strategies [...]
Puberty: The Stupid Time?
In this recent article in Time Magazine, the referred to study examines why some adolescents may, at least appear to be, “stupid.” So when it comes to assessing the long-term and short-term consequences of decisions, and to what extent they should take risks, youth need more than quick tips; they need their brain to develop [...]
When transitioning to adulthood is halted
It is easy to consider the challenges faced by teens who want more independence, more texts and minutes in their cell plans, and their own facebook page. An often overlooked challenge is when the youth suddenly is faced with what most would consider to be adult situations and decisions. This article, appearing in the New [...]
Financing in a Difficult Economy
This week, The Finance Project issued a report: Cutting Cost, Keeping Quality: Financing Strategies for Youth-Serving Organizations in a Difficult Economy. While to some economic activity is improving, nonprofits (including youth serving ones) are still facing financial struggles as a result of cuts in government funding and foundation grants. The brief highlights promising practices from [...]
Family Connections Improve Public Safety
Attorney General Eric Holder had this to say at a Town Hall Meeting on Fatherhood and Youth Violence: “Family connections improve public safety, and responsible and engaged parenting improves public safety.” Full remarks are here.
Real Wellness
Look beyond the basics of this article, and you’ll find an important note: it’s important for youth to be moving not just so they’ll be physically fit, but so that they’ll be socially fit as well. For years to come, we will see research that shows that engaged youth are more likely to be healthy [...]
Common Threads
We’ve heard a lot about childhood obesity in the last year or so … and in the last month we’re hearing even more from the First Lady. But in additon to buying less bags of chips and putting out more spreads of celery and carrot sticks after school, what are communities doing to address the [...]
New Website on Youth Programs
The Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs, which is a collaborative effort among more than a dozen Federal agencies, has just gone live with a new (and resourceful!) website. Visit www.findyouthinfo.gov for community mapping, updated information on positive youth development, news and funding announcements, and more.
Teens and Dept. of Transportation
The budget for U.S. Dept. of Transportation includes a ’special emphasis’ on teen drivers. As opposed to focusing solely on enforcement and more regulations, I hope DOT will also support programs that empower teens to lead safe and healthy lives. Here is the blurb from the Obama budget that provides a few additional details:
Why some kids get bullied… and how the playground might be a learning space
A new study out suggests that there are important lessons to be learned right on the playground… and they aren’t just about exercise. The social skills learned might be key players in helping avoiding being bullied, according to Rush Neurobehavioral Center in Chicago.
Budget Update from OSDFS
Knowing that many youth-serving organizations receive funding through the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools (OSDFS) at U.S. Dept. of ED, I wanted to share the following email that was sent yesterday afternoon:
Dear Safe Schools Partners:
Today the President’s 2011 budget is being released, and I am writing to offer more detail about its implications [...]
