Transcript Document
Quality Afterschool Programs How Do You Know When You Have Them? A Youth Development Perspective! Eddie Locklear 4-H Afterschool Director National 4-H Council Objectives Participants will: • Increase knowledge of youth development concepts • Increase knowledge of essential elements of youth development • Learn strategies to achieve youth development outcomes NSACA (NAA) Standards • • • • • • Human Relationships Indoor Environments Outdoor Environments Activities Safety, Health, Nutrition Administration SACERS Categories • • • • • • • Space and Furnishings Health and Safety Activities Interactions Program Structure Staff Development Special Needs Supplementary Items Required Elements of Quality Child Care, School-Age Care, and Out-ofSchool Programs for Older Youth and Teens Experiences to Promote Physical, Cognitive, Social, Emotional Development of Children/Youth and Strengthen Family Relationships Caregiving Experiences that: - Nurture - Guide - Protect - Meet Basic Needs Care Educational Experiences to Promote Learning Quality Child Care, School-Age Care, and Out-of-School Programs for Older Youth and Teens Source: Cooperative Extension System Extension “Cares” for America’s Children and Youth Initiative March, 2001 What Is Youth Development? The natural process of developing one’s capacities Occurs through youth’s daily experiences with people, places, and environment Too important to be left to chance Positive Youth Development An intentional process that promotes positive outcomes Provides opportunities, relationships, and the support to fully participate Youth development takes place in families, peer groups, schools, afterschool programs, neighborhoods and communities Important Changes In Young Peoples’ Lives Biological and Physical Cognitive Psychosocial Important Needs of Youth Physiological Safety and Structure Belonging/Membership Closeness/Relationships Competency/Mastery Independence/Control of one’s life Self Worth/Contribution Capacity to enjoy life Competencies Needed By Youth Health/Physical Personal/Social Cognitive/Creative Vocational/Citizenship Developmental States in Different Domains Children can be in different developmental stages in each developmental area. Source: Cooperative Extension System. Extension "CARES" for America's Children and Youth Initiative, August, 2002. Developmental Stages of Children and Youth Degree of Child Self-Regulation Higher Lower Early Adulthood Late Adolescence Early Adolescence Middle Childhood Early Childhood Source: Cooperative Extension System Extension "CARES" for America's Children and Youth Initiative, August, 2002. Infancy 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Child's Age in Years Contextual Influences on Youth Family Peers After-School Program School Community Work Leisure Essential Elements of Youth Development • • • • A positive relationship with a caring adult Safe physical and emotional environment Opportunities to master skills and content Opportunities to practice service to others (continued) ⇨ Source: Prepared and Engaged Youth; National 4-H Impact Assessment Project, 2001; USDA; CSREES Essential Elements of Youth Development • Opportunities for self-determination, decisionmaking and goal setting • Opportunities to be an active, engaged learner • A positive connection with the future • An inclusive atmosphere Source: Prepared and Engaged Youth; National 4-H Impact Assessment Project, 2001; USDA; CSREES Key Elements Involve Four Concepts Belonging Mastery Independence Generosity Belonging Positive Relationship with a caring adult An Inclusive environment A safe environment Mastery Engagement in Learning Opportunity for Mastery Independence Opportunity to see oneself as an active participant in the future Opportunity for self-determination Generosity Opportunity to value and practice service to others All Youth will find ways to: Meet Their Basic Needs Build Skills and Values Use their skills, talents, energies and time in ways that make them feel good and powerful All Youth Need: To know they are cared about by others To feel and believe they are capable and successful To know they are able to influence people and events To practice helping others Fun and stimulation If Belonging and Mastery Needs are Unmet: Unattached Guarded Rejecting Lonely Aloof Isolated Distrustful Non-achiever Avoids Risk Fears challenges Unmotivated Gives Up Easily If Independence and Generosity Needs Are Unmet: Submissive Lacks confidence Irresponsible Helplessness Undisciplined Easily influenced Selfish Narcissistic Hardened Anti-Social Exploitative If Belonging and Mastery Needs are met in Negative Ways: Gang Loyalty Craves Affection & Acceptance Promiscuous Clinging Overly-Dependent Overachiever Arrogant Risk-seeker Cheater Workaholic Perseveres Delinquent Skills If Independence and Generosity Needs are met in Negative Ways: Dictatorial Reckless Bully Sexual Prowess Manipulative Rebellious Defies Authority Overly involved Plays Martyr Co-dependent If Belonging and Mastery Needs are met in Positive Ways: Attached Loving Friendly Intimate Social Cooperative Trusting Achieving Successful Creative Problem-solver Motivated Persistent Competent If Independence and Generosity Needs are met in Positive ways: Autonomous Confident Assertive Responsible Inner Control Self-Disciplined Leadership Altruistic Caring Sharing Loyal Empathic Pro-social Supportive The Circle of Meeting Youth Needs Behavior or Characteristic Impacts Type of Response Need Met or Unmet Response - Increases Characteristic or Behavior • Youth characteristics and behaviors impact whether they will get needs met in new situations. • Adult responses to needs impact development of characteristics and behaviors in youth. Youth Outcomes • Competence Advanced skills in some important subjects of interest • Character Clear, consistent moral precepts that effectively guide behavior • Caring Willingness to respond to the needs and concerns of others (continued) ⇒ Youth Outcomes • Confidence Willingness to take on new challenges and expect success • Connections Establishing and maintaining relationships at many levels • Contributions Making a difference in the lives of others through service Summary • • • • • • Youth / Adult Interactions Appropriate Activities Safe Environments (physical & psychological safety) Developmental Stages of Youth Inclusive of Education, Youth Development, and Care Address the Head, Heart, Hands, & Health of Youth Resources: • Eccles, J., & Gootman, J.A. (2002). Community programs to promote youth development. Washington, D.C. National Academy Press. Available at: http://books.nap.edu/books/0309072751/html/1.html • Kress, C.A. (2004). Essential Elements of 4-H Youth Development. CSREES, USDA, Washington, DC • www.nsaca.org • www.cyfernet.org • www.4hafterschool.org (continued) ⇒ Resources: • www.afterschoolalliance.org • afterschool.org (Promising Practices in Afterschool) • www.kcyouthnet.org/standards1.asp • www.reeusda.gov/extensioncares/ • www.schoolagenotes.com/S101.html • www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/projects/ afterschool/about.html (continued) ⇒ Resources: • Prepared and Engaged Youth: National 4-H Impact Assessment Project, 2001. USDA, CSREES, Families, 4-H & Nutrition, Washington, D.C. • After-School Programs & the K-8 Principal. Standards for Quality School-Age Child Care Revised Edition (1999). National Association of Elementary School Principals, 1615 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia. 22314-3483.