This issue highlights research and practice innovations that deepen our understanding of youth development across diverse settings, systems, and experiences. Together, these articles illuminate how intentional programs, relationships, and learning environments can strengthen youth outcomes and advance equity in the field.
Highlights from this issue include:
Long-term educational impact of 4-H: Indiana 4-H alumni enroll in postsecondary education at significantly higher rates than state averages, demonstrating the program’s contribution to college readiness and the value of leveraging National Student Clearinghouse data for outcomes tracking.
Motivating youth leadership: A qualitative study identifies how transformative and formative experiences inspire teens’ motivation to lead—through mechanisms like inspiring vision, confidence-building, autonomy, and recognition.
Mentoring to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline: A university–school partnership outlines a replicable mentoring model for youth in disciplinary alternative schools, showing early promise in building trust, support, and connection.
Equity in environmental education: A statewide survey of Wisconsin EE institutions reveals gaps between organizational intentions for culturally relevant pedagogy and the resources, training, and partnerships needed to deliver equitable learning experiences.
Strengthening volunteer engagement: A five-part, multi-state professional development initiative significantly increased youth development professionals’ knowledge and skills related to volunteer readiness, recruitment, engagement, and retention.
Cross-age SEL programming feasibility: A pilot of the Emotion Coaches program suggests middle school students may be too young to serve as SEL instructors, while high school–aged mentors show promise when supported by strong training, partnerships, and mental health resources.
Life skills through sport: An evaluation of the Coaching Life Skills Through Sport online course finds that coaches increased their knowledge, intentions, and readiness to integrate life skills strategies into athletic practice.
Indigenous youth leadership in the climate movement: A review highlights the growing leadership of AI/AN youth in climate activism and underscores opportunities to support their development as scientists, organizers, and change agents.
Sports as a buffer for youth with incarcerated parents: Among adolescents impacted by parental incarceration, sports team participation is linked to stronger academic engagement, fewer emotional distress symptoms, and lower substance use—especially for youth with greater resource access.
Training volume and well-being for athletes with physical disabilities: A study of young air-pistol athletes finds that more hours of practice are associated with higher quality of life, greater emotional intelligence, and improved performance.
We are deeply grateful to the authors who selected JYD as the outlet for their scholarship and to our reviewers for their thoughtful contributions that strengthen the journal.
We also acknowledge the invaluable support of the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4-HYDP) and the National Afterschool Association (NAA). Their continued sponsorship and leadership play a vital role in sustaining the journal.
Our gratitude goes as well to the broader JYD community—readers, contributors, and partners—whose engagement helps position the journal as a leading resource for advancing youth development research and practice.
You can explore all articles on our website and keep connected with JYD by following us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter/X (@JournalYouthDev) for updates and highlights.
Announcement Text
JYD Announcement
Date: December 5, 2025
Title: JYD Winter 2025 Issue Published
Good day JYD Readers,
The Journal of Youth Development (JYD) has published its latest issue (20.4) at https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/jyd.
This issue highlights research and practice innovations that deepen our understanding of youth development across diverse settings, systems, and experiences. Together, these articles illuminate how intentional programs, relationships, and learning environments can strengthen youth outcomes and advance equity in the field.
Highlights from this issue include:
We are deeply grateful to the authors who selected JYD as the outlet for their scholarship and to our reviewers for their thoughtful contributions that strengthen the journal.
We also acknowledge the invaluable support of the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4-HYDP) and the National Afterschool Association (NAA). Their continued sponsorship and leadership play a vital role in sustaining the journal.
Our gratitude goes as well to the broader JYD community—readers, contributors, and partners—whose engagement helps position the journal as a leading resource for advancing youth development research and practice.
You can explore all articles on our website and keep connected with JYD by following us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter/X (@JournalYouthDev) for updates and highlights.
Best,
Barry A. Garst
Editor-in-Chief
Journal of Youth Development