Positive Youth Development (PYD) is an intentional, deliberate process of providing support, relationships, experiences, resources and opportunities that promote positive outcomes for youth. While most government programs that serve youth are designed to prevent certain behavior (drugs, violence, pregnancy, etc.), I’m convinced we should be less focused on ‘fixing’ young people and more focused on ‘fixing’ the environments in which we raise our young people.
Dr. Peter Benson, president of Search Institute in Minneapolis, MN, makes the following statement in his most recent book, Sparks: How Parents Can Help Ignite the Hidden Strengths of Teenagers:
At the root of our national dilemma is a lack of vision. We simply do not have a frame of reference, a shared understanding, a common dream, for growing great kids. Without a shared vision rooted in promoting the potential of each and every child, we create, at best, national and community initiatives designed to put out fires. The vision our nation needs begins with seeing each child as precious and filled with potential. The vision recognizes that government policy requires deep transformation, moving from a preoccupation with preventing problems to a proactive investment in promoting human potential.
I agree with this assessment and the need to transform government policies and programs that attempt to serve young people. Here’s a nice slide that shows the key differences between the traditional approach to youth services and a PYD approach:
