Welcome to the Journal of Youth Development, an open-source, peer-reviewed, quarterly online publication dedicated to advancing youth development practice and research. JYD serves applied researchers and evaluators as well as practitioners who work in youth-serving organizations or the intermediaries that support them.
JYD is the official journal of two of the largest professional associations for those working with and on behalf of young people, the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4-HYDP) and the National Afterschool Association (NAA).
As a reader, reviewer or author, please consider JYD your home for finding and sharing scholarship that bridges research and practice. For all the latest news and updates, follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@JournalYouthDev).
Current Issue: Volume 21, Issue 2 (2026)
Full Issue
Full Issue, Volume 21, Issue 2
Journal of Youth Development
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Journal of Youth Development
Feature Articles
4‑H Efforts Toward Demographic Representation, 1980–2025: A State‑of‑the‑Art Review (Part 1)
Jeremy Elliott-Engel and Jeff Wayne Howard
Uplifting Youth Voice through Multi‑Level Features to Make a Splash for Positive Youth Development
Sylvia Y. Gutierrez; Kellie A. Walters; Jayne A, Fulkerson; Nancy Sherwood; and Eydie Kramer-Kostecka
How Adults Can Bridge the Trust Gap with Youth
Dana Mitra, Ghadir Al Saghir, Ashley Boat, Jerusha O. Conner, and Samantha Holquist
The Five Cs of Positive Youth Development in Singapore: Building Adolescent Resilience
Teresa Theodora Jing Yi Tan and Li Neng Lee
Youth Social and Emotional Development Through Sports: Skyhawks Insight
Jeremy Vincent and Michelle Van Beek
The Heart of Camp: Belonging, Relationships, and Growth of Character and Skills
Alecia Moser, Nila Rosen, Maurice Elias, Sarah R. Sprayberry, and Andrea Vest Ettekal
4‑H Efforts Toward Demographic Representation, 1980–2025: Next Directions (Part 2)
Jeremy Elliott-Engel and Jeff Wayne Howard
Program and Practice Article
BRIDGES: Youth Organizing in Memphis
Caitlin A. Caswell, Maddie Smith, and Elizabeth Thomas
Research and Evaluation Studies
Beyond the Page: Transmedia Storytelling to Promote GEDSI Among Youth
Clara Evi Candrayuli Citraningtyas, Gita Widya Laksmini Soerjoatmodjo, Isti Utami, - Supriyanto, and Slamet Budiharjo
How Lesson Type Shapes First-Grade ScienceEngagement and Enjoyment
Stella Cybulski, Brooke Towner, and Joy James
Youth Engagement with Rural School & Community Institutions: Implications for Future Orientation
Hannah Falcone, Cindy L. Hartman, Jayson Seaman, Andrew D. Coppens, and Kate Moscouver
Afterschool Program Attendance and Academic Outcomesin a Vermont District
Hans W. Cabra Hernandez
Relationships Matter: External Factors Influence High School Completion among Black Young Adults
L. B. Simmons, Shawn Jones, Sepideh S. Soheilian, and Chelsea Williams
Understanding Adolescents’ Attitudes Toward Disabilitiesto Improve Out-of-School Programs
Vanessa Spero, David C. Diehl, John M. Diaz, and Serap Gorucu
Rhode Island Teen Institute Remains Impactful After More Than a Decade Hiatus
Tayla von Ash, Anusha Gupta, Michael J. Thompson, Jennifer Stevens, Terese Gregg, and Sandra Del Sesto
Fostering Developmentally Nurturant Relationships to Promote Character and Thriving: Perspectives of Program Practitioners in Rural South Africa
Jonathan M. Tirrell, Alexa Hasse, Margaret Mackin, Elizabeth Dowling, Kirsten Olander, Roya Abbasi-Asl, Katherine McConnel, Thobeka Kwela, Raah Msimango, Justine McCarthy-Martin, Tyler Howard, Angela Larkan, and Richard Lerner
Relationships Matter: External Factors Influence High School Completion among Black Young Adults
L. Blair Simmons, Shawn CT Jones, Sepideh S. Soheilian, and Chelsea D. Williams
