Youth Development: An Update

Youth development involves improving cognitive, social, emotional, academic, and vocational outcomes for teenagers and young adults. According to the Family and Youth Services Bureau at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “the youth development approach is predicated on the understanding that all young people need support, guidance, and opportunities during adolescence, a time of rapid growth and change.”

There is increased attention to outcomes for youth in light of research suggesting some negative impacts for adolescents under welfare reform. This is likely to include discussion of academic and vocational educational programs; prevention of dependency of youth in TANF families; and prevention of juvenile delinquency or other negative consequences that may occur as a result of reduced supervision of adolescents. Some observers may point out that increased work requirements for parents resulted in less supervision for teenagers and propose changing those requirements. Other unsupervised teenagers whose parents are not at home before and after school may be stressed and distracted from academics because of taking on adult roles, such as caring for younger siblings. Observers may propose better supports for those families, including child care. Other proposals may advocate allotting more funding for after-school and other youth development programs to better support youth impacted by welfare reform.

This Resources provides information on recent publications and resources on outcomes for teenagers in families receiving or transitioning off the welfare rolls and innovative youth development programs for those and other at-risk youth. For more information on child and adolescent well-being, see the related WIN TANF Reauthorization Note: “Child Well-Being and the Reauthorization of Welfare Reform,” at http://www.welfareinfo.org/childwellbeing_trn.htm. Please also refer to the following web pages: Youth at http://www.welfareinfo.org/youthmain.asp and TANF Reauthorization Issues: Impact of Welfare Reform on Child and Adolescent Well-Being at http://www.welfareinfo.org/childwellbeingreauthorization.htm.

Brooks, Jennifer, Elizabeth Hair, and Martha Zaslow, Welfare Reform's Impact on Adolescents: Early Warning Signs. (Washington, D.C.: Child Trends, July 2001 ) at http://www.childtrends.org/PDF/WelfareEditBrief.pdf .

Brown, Brett, Teens, Jobs, and Welfare Reform: Implications for Social Policy. (Washington, D.C.: Child Trends, August 2001) at http://www.childtrends.org/pdf/CT_Research_Briefs.pdf.

Chase-Lansdale, P. Lindsay, Rebekah Levine Coley, Brenda J. Lohman, and Laura D. Pittman, Welfare Reform: What About the Children? (Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University,

January 2002) at http://www.jhu.edu/~welfare/19382_Welfare_jan02.pdf.

Eccles, Jacquelynne and Jennifer Appleton Gootman, Eds., Community Programs to Promote Youth Development. (Washington, D.C.: Board on Children, Youth, and Families, National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, November 2001) at http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10022.html .

Eisen, Marvin, Christina Pallitto, Carolyn Bradner, and Natalya Bolshun, Teen Risk-Taking: Promising Prevention Programs and Approaches. (Washington, D.C.: Urban Institute, October 3, 2000) at http://www.urban.org/family/TeenRiskTaking_2.html.

Family and Youth Services Bureau, Family and Youth Services Bureau
State Youth Development Collaboration Projects’ Proposed Plans. (Washington, D.C.: Administration on Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, October 1998) at http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/fysb/merge01.htm.

Herrera, Carla, Zoua Vang and Lisa Y. Gale, Group Mentoring: A Study of Mentoring Groups in Three Programs. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Public/Private Ventures, February 2002) at http://www.ppv.org/indexfiles/pubsindex.html.

Morris, Pamela, Virginia Knox, and Lisa A. Gennetian, Welfare Policies Matter for Children and Youth: Lessons for TANF Reauthorization. (New York, New York: Manpower Demonstration and Research Corporation, March 2002) at http://www.mdrc.org/Reports2002/NG_PolicyBrief/NG_PolicyBrief.htm.

Pergamit, Michael R., Ph.D. Lynn Huang, Ph.D. Julie Lane, Ph.D., The Long Term Impact of Adolescent Risky Behaviors and Family Environment. (Chicago: National Opinion Research Center (NORC), University of Chicago for the Assistant Secretary of Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, August 2001) at http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/riskybehav01/index.htm.

Trzcinski, Eileen, and Jerry Brandell, Adolescent Outcomes, Poverty Status, and Welfare Reform: An Analysis Based on the Survey of Program Dynamics. (Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University School of Social Work, January 2002) at http://www.jcpr.org/wpfiles/trzcinski_brandell_sg00_01.pdf.

The Alabama Department of Public Health, in partnership with the Alabama Department of Human Resources, provides care coordination to youth under 18 who present at local health departments for family planning services. This coordinated care is provided by 67 licensed social workers and nurses. Knowing the majority of teens who get pregnant or cause pregnancies are engaged in a pattern of poor choices involving failing or dropping out of school, delinquency, use or abuse of drugs, violent behaviors, and others, a holistic approach is taken when working with the young people in this program. Along with reproductive health education and services, the care coordinators address the patient’s basic needs for self-confidence, self-competence, self-worth, and self-esteem. The case coordinators supplement direct case management with support groups and classes both within the health department and in outside entities such as schools and community centers. For more information, contact Jean Blackmon at 334/242-1878 or jblackmon@dhr.state.al.us.

El Paso County (Colorado) Department of Human Services (DHS), the City of Colorado Springs, and over 30 community partners collaborate to deliver the Teen Self-Sufficiency Program that provides self-sufficiency services and activities to youth aging out of foster care, youth receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and local teens. Two Teen Resource Centers evolved out of the program, which aims to help teens make a successful transition to adulthood. The program provides a variety of services which include: basic living skills training, education opportunities, emphasis on personal responsibility, community services including career counseling and decision making, parenting and nurturing classes and employment opportunities. The focus on self-sufficiency represents a change from a deficit to an assets approach. The funding for the Teen Self-Sufficiency Program is primarily provided through TANF funds and in-kind donations. More than 900 teens have participated in the program since the first Center opened in February of 2000. For more information, contact Marie Parker at 719/444-5211 or MarieParker@elpasoco.com.

Illinois’ Teen REACH (Responsibility, Education, Achievement, Caring and Hope) program was started in 1998 and administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services. The program is funded by several sources, including TANF. There are 84 local projects funded through the program, including schools, churches, social service organizations, and other organizations. DHS is working to achieve the following objectives through the program: increased school attendance and completion of high school; fewer school suspensions and expulsions; fewer juvenile arrests; fewer teen pregnancies; less alcohol and drug use; and increased involvement by young people in community services, work and work-related activities. All projects emphasize parental involvement and Teen REACH serves approximately 50,000 children and adolescents yearly. For more information, contact Sally Petrone at 217/558-2674 or dhshpa1@dhs.state.il.us.

The Georgia Department of Public Health administers the Adolescent Health and Youth Development (AHYD) initiative. The purpose of the AHYD initiative is to improve the health status and reduce high risk behaviors of adolescents through opportunities and programs developed in collaboration with families, communities, schools, and other public and private organizations. The programs include 39 comprehensive adolescent health services programs, 17 community involvement programs, 29 pregnancy prevention programs emphasizing male involvement, and abstinence-only education programs. For more information, contact Carolyn B. Aidman at 404/657-8377 or cbaidman@dhr.state.ga.us.

Maryland has 17 programs in its state TCA (TANF) plan that address needs of youth. These programs include the Youth Service Program in the Office of Work Opportunities, Youth Operations division. This program is designed to deter youth from becoming TCA customers, and provides opportunities for youth to learn about careers and the world of work, while linked closely to the local labor market and youth development. Youth are involved in community service. For more information, contact Larry Pinkett at 410/767-7978. Another example is “Maryland’s Tomorrow,” a statewide dropout prevention program operating in 70 high schools and 23 middle schools. The purpose is to prevent and reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies, improve self-esteem, attendance, school performance and promotion rate, and behavior of at-risk students in grades six through twelve, and to motivate them to succeed in high school, make wise career choices, and continue their education and training. Case managers visit elementary schools and identify students to participate in the program. Activities vary by local school system. For more information, contact Rosemary Bitzel at 410/767-0925.

The Welfare Information Network is supported by grants from the Annie E. Casey Foundation the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.