NCJ Number
167719
Date Published
1997
Length
96 pages
Annotation
This report presents the methodology and findings of a study that examined the effectiveness of voluntary youth-serving organizations (VYSO's) with a mission and history of promoting healthy childhood and adolescent experiences.
Abstract
The study was designed to determine whether such "developmental" settings attract a diverse group of youth, whether youth spend enough time in these environments for participation to be a significant experience in their lives, and the types of positive structured and unstructured activities to which youth are drawn in these settings. A fourth, more complex issue addressed was whether measures could be developed and used to document whether the type of youth-serving strategy these VYSO's use offers juveniles the developmental supports and opportunities critical to making a healthy transition to adulthood. The general methodology used to address the study questions included tracking attendance and activities at sites, a survey of adolescents' experiences, and site visits to collect data on organizational structure and practices. The findings have led to two general conclusions. First, there is a feasible method for assessing the effectiveness of organizations that implement a youth development approach, a method that measures the quality of the services. Second, and more important, when a youth development approach is undertaken by these organizations, it can both attract and hold the interest of adolescents and can become an effective means for achieving developmental goals for a variety of youth, without focusing on deficits or problems. 17 tables, 39 references, and appended supplementary information