Community Programs to Promote Youth Development

"After-school programs, scout groups, community service activities, religious youth groups, and other community-based activities have traditionally been an important part of the lives of many adolescents. But what do such programs contribute in the formation of today’s adolescents? Do we know how to design youth programs so that they can successfully meet young people’s developmental needs and help them become healthy, happy, and productive
adults?

'Community Programs to Promote Youth Development,' a report of the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Community-Level Programs for Youth, explores these questions, focusing on essential elements of adolescent wellbeing and healthy development. It offers recommendations for policy, practice, and research to ensure that programs are well designed to meet young people’s developmental needs."