Articulating a Positive Youth Development Philosophy

Your philosophy, much like a vision or mission statement, can serve to anchor and guide school activities, staff development, parent involvement and youth participation. The framework should focus on youth and should include:

• Your basic values and beliefs about students
• Your primary purpose in working with students
• Your hopes for students in your school

Once a program has articulated an appropriate philosophy, it is important to begin to examine the program’s components and practices.

Implementing a in Positive Youth Development Approach

First and foremost, it is important that your philosophy be inclusive of all students in the school. It is often challenging to maintain a strengths-based approach for students who are truant, non-achievers or habitually disruptive. However, inclusivity is critical to the successful implementation of a positive youth development philosophy.

Additionally, school staff needs to recognize and reward positive behavior instead of merely attending to negative actions. Youth are be celebrated for their contribution to the school community. A well researched program called Positive Behavior Support provides an alternative approach to traditionally punitive, consequence-oriented and ineffective disciplinary practices.

In climates that foster positive youth development, youth have multiple opportunities and choices in their educational future. All students are expected to define and achieve their dreams and goals. School staff does not limit their expectations of a student based on her income, parental occupation, sibling achievement, ethnicity, or past delinquent behavior. All students are expected to graduate with a high school diploma and schools need to provide the support necessary to realize that goal. .

In nourishing school environments, youth have opportunities to develop positive relationships with adults and peers. A positive school climate is created when all adults consistently demonstrate a strengths-based approach. School staff needs orientation and going training to translate the philosophy into their day to day practice. School volunteers must also be indoctrinated in this approach.
In strengths-based schools, youth have a meaningful role as a contributing partner in the governance of the school. Youth work with school staff to co-construct the norms and expectations. Vehicles for student involvement include student advisory boards, student representation during policy making and student run disciplinary committees.

Integrating a Framework

Once you have clearly articulated your school’s philosophy and linked it to best practices, you can look at integrating this framework into all aspects of your program. Total integration of the framework encompasses staffing, policies, communications, and community outreach. For example, how does our hiring process involve youth? Are policies and procedures (program ‘rules’, discipline policies, evaluation) based on our framework and philosophy? Do staff-student and staff-staff communications model our philosophy and framework? Are parents and our community partners aware of and actively supporting our philosophy and framework?

Developing and integrating this philosophy and framework may be the single most important action a program can take to support youth success. When leadership, staff, parents and students come together to clearly identify, communicate, and apply their deepest values and hopes, it has the power to make significant changes in youth’s attitudes, values, and lives.

Other Articles of Interest

At-risk Youth
Parental Involvement in Schools
Truancy
Youth Development