A Holistic Approach to Positive Youth Development for Youth-At-Risk: Utilizing Land Grant University Resources
Format
Individual Presentation
First Presenter's Institution
University of Georgia
Second Presenter's Institution
University of Georgia
Third Presenter's Institution
Fort Valley State University
Fourth Presenter's Institution
N/A
Fifth Presenter's Institution
N/A
Location
Session 5 Breakouts
Strand #1
Heart: Social & Emotional Skills
Strand #2
Home: Family & Community Engagement
Relevance
The essential elements are the guiding principles of 4-H development which inspires students to promote character education and life skills to become productive citizens in and beyond their community.
4-H has implemented numerous learning experiences that allow youth to gather and make new friends in positive social climates outside of school. These experiences foster positive relationships with other youth and adults and emphasize their strengths.
The 4-H program is built upon youth and adult partnerships that promotes family and community engagement.
The ability to create a sense of community in various settings, specifically schools, 4-H has been the organizational leader for curriculum-based programming for many years.
4-H programs are easily accessible through a variety of methods in rural and urban settings. 4-H programs collaborate with other community organizations and non-profits to meet the needs of local youth. Such collaborations address the following needs: service project partnerships, mentoring, drug and gang prevention, and academic achievement.
Brief Program Description
The presenters will share information of Extension resources from Land Grant Universities are available to educators. 4-H Youth programs are easily accessible to help meet the needs of youth for positive development. Participants will learn delivery methods of different 4-H programs, the essential elements that drive the purpose of programming, and the benefits of 4-H programming for at-risk youth populations.
Summary
Land grant universities across the nation offer positive youth development for all youth through 4-H. It is the mission of the 4-H program to assist youth in acquiring knowledge, developing life skills, and forming attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, productive and contributing members of society. This mission is accomplished, through “hands on” learning experiences, focused on agricultural and environmental issues, leadership, communication skills, health living, and civic engagement. Programs that are provided by local 4-H clubs are extended to collaborate with school systems (public, private and home instruction) to benefit at-risk youth. For more than 100 years, 4-H has continued to be a leader in progressive youth development by implementing diverse and appropriate programming.
The 4-H research by Tufts University sets the framework of Positive Youth Development (PYD) and experiential learning. Tuft’s longitudinal study revealed that the 4-H programs offered, leadership, adult mentoring plays a vital role in the success of youth. The characteristics of 4-H programming provide under served populations with hands-on learning experiences that are practical and accessible for them to develop into productive citizens. The Tufts University Study will be shared and reviewed for participants to gain a greater understanding for the need of 4-H programming with at-risk youth.
4-H continues to carry out the mission of land-grant institutions, set forth by the Morrill Act of 1862, to teach bring agricultural education and classical studies for members to enhance their employ-ability and practical skills. The concepts of youth and adults working together to learn and grow for the creation of positive relationships for growing a stronger community, country, and world.
Evidence
The 4-H program is known for providing opportunities of youth development to develop their skills, expand their practical knowledge, and learning experiences through the process of learning by doing. For over a century, the 4-H program has made a significant impact in the lives of youth. A longitudinal study from Tufts University discovered that the structured out-of-school time learning, leadership experiences, and adult mentoring that young people receive through their participation in 4-H plays a vital role in helping them achieve success. Positive youth development research has helped families, schools, communities and youth programs develop strategies to support children and adolescents. Effective youth development programs like 4-H is putting the research to work by focusing on 1- Positive and sustained relationships between youth and adults, 2- Activities that build important life skills, and 3- Opportunities for youth to use these skills as participants and demonstrate leadership skills. The study addressed the key characteristics of Positive Youth Development– competence, confidence, character, connection and caring – followed by the impact of 4-H as a valued community program.
National 4-H Foundation. (2020). Research on 4-H Programs and More. Retrieved from https://4-h.org/about/research/
National 4-H Foundation. (2020). What is 4-H? https://4-h.org/about/what-is-4-h/ Cloverleaf Magazine. (2019). Georgia 4-H Annual Report. https://georgia4h.org/wp-content/uploads/Cloverleaf-Publication-2019_small.pdf
Our History. (2017). https://extension.uga.edu/about/our-history.html
Learning Objectives
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Identify the 4-H Youth Development organization’s essential elements and their positive implementation in 4-H programming
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Increase awareness of TUFT University’s longitudinal study of Positive Youth Development
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Explore opportunities to partner with local land-grant universities
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Apply different delivery methods for positive youth development programs for at-risk youth
Biographical Sketch
Crystal Perry is a Public Service Associate with the University of Georgia and has served as the 4-H Extension Agent in Sumter County, Georgia, for the past six years. Before joining UGA Extension, Crystal worked with delinquent youth placed in the juvenile justice system. She is passionate about serving youth with special needs and those at-risk. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, Master of Public Administration degree, and is a Social and Human Services Ph.D. Candidate. Drawing on a broad range of experiences to include managing a juvenile tracking program in collaboration with the Department of Juvenile Justice, implementing the Georgia Department of Human Services TeenWork programs, to managing afterschool programs with the Methodist Home for Children and Youth, Crystal also has professional experience and educational studies in health services. Crystal’s background spans the field of youth development, administration, and public health with a specific interest in family studies and intervention strategies. She has expanded the 4-H youth development program through traditional and non-traditional methods to include innovative diversity and inclusion programming.
Phillip Petway, serves as the Twiggs County 4-H with Fort Valley State University. Petway has a M.S. in Public Health and B.S. in Agricultural Economics both from Fort Valley State University. He provides leadership through outreach and educational programs for positive youth development through 4-H club meetings/ specialty club meetings, coordinating local activities, preparing youth for project/ judging events, and summer camp in Twiggs County. Educational programming in areas of health, nutrition, and fitness; Health Rocks curriculum to address youth tobacco, alcohol, and drug use for chronic disease prevention/ risky behavior and lifestyles. Petway has served in the role as Program Site Coordinator for a National 4-H Council Mentoring Grant through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to improve family wellness and health.
Jazmin Thomas serves as the 4-H Youth Development Agent in Dougherty County (Albany, Georgia). Thomas has a Bachelor of Science in Rural Studies and Master of Public Administration degree. Thomas has worked with UGA Extension and Georgia 4-H as a summer camp counselor, leadership counselor, intern, and volunteer. Thomas is passionate about assisting at-risk youth discover special interests to keep them motivated. Thomas partners with several non-profit organizations in the Dougherty County community in order to reach the largest number of youth.
Keyword Descriptors
Youth development, community, heart, head, hands, health, schools, 4-H, land-grant, Extension
Presentation Year
2021
Start Date
3-9-2021 11:25 AM
End Date
3-9-2021 12:25 PM
Recommended Citation
Thomas, Jazmin C.; Perry, Crystal; and Petway, Phillip, "A Holistic Approach to Positive Youth Development for Youth-At-Risk: Utilizing Land Grant University Resources" (2021). National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference. 26.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2021/2021/26
A Holistic Approach to Positive Youth Development for Youth-At-Risk: Utilizing Land Grant University Resources
Session 5 Breakouts
The presenters will share information of Extension resources from Land Grant Universities are available to educators. 4-H Youth programs are easily accessible to help meet the needs of youth for positive development. Participants will learn delivery methods of different 4-H programs, the essential elements that drive the purpose of programming, and the benefits of 4-H programming for at-risk youth populations.