This issue brings together research and practice scholarship that examines how youth development programs, relationships, and learning environments contribute to positive outcomes across diverse populations and contexts. Collectively, the articles highlight strategies for strengthening inclusion, resilience, leadership, engagement, and learning while advancing understanding of how youth-serving organizations can better support thriving among all young people.
Articles in this issue address:
4-H Representation and Inclusion: This state-of-the-art review synthesizes 45 years of scholarship to examine how effectively 4-H has served a demographically representative youth population. The review highlights progress in culturally responsive programming and diversity initiatives while identifying persistent barriers and future directions for advancing access, inclusion, and belonging. This is part 1 of a two-part article.
Adapting Youth Programs for Diverse Girls: This study explores how a health promotion program for pre-adolescent girls can be adapted across diverse cultural and community settings. Findings emphasize the importance of incorporating youth perspectives and strengthening environmental, interpersonal, and individual supports to enhance engagement and reduce participation barriers.
Trust in Youth–Adult Partnerships: Using a mixed-methods design, this study examines how trust shapes the development of youth–adult partnerships in educational settings. Results suggest that adults can strengthen partnerships by demonstrating care, respect, transparency, adaptability, and reliability.
Positive Youth Development and Resilience in Singapore: This study evaluates the Five Cs model of Positive Youth Development among adolescents and emerging adults in Singapore. Findings support the model’s applicability across cultural contexts and demonstrate its role in promoting resilience.
Social-Emotional Learning in Sports Camps: This case study investigates the influence of sports camp participation on youths’ social-emotional learning competencies. Results indicate growth in social awareness and self-management while highlighting the complex ways camp environments and coach interactions shape youth development.
Youth Organizing for Community Change: This article presents BRIDGES USA as a model of youth organizing grounded in positive youth development and youth–adult partnership principles. The case study illustrates how youth organizing can support both individual growth and collective action toward community change.
Transmedia Storytelling and Social Inclusion: This experimental study evaluates the effectiveness of transmedia storytelling for increasing youth awareness of gender equality, disability, and social inclusion issues. Findings demonstrate that participatory storytelling approaches can foster critical reflection, empathy, and youth engagement in social justice efforts.
Guided Play and Science Learning: This study examines how active and playful learning environments influence elementary students’ experiences with science education. Results suggest that guided play, particularly in outdoor settings, enhances enjoyment and promotes deeper engagement with scientific concepts.
Positive Youth Development in Rural Communities: Through interviews with rural youth in New Hampshire, this study explores how schools, work experiences, community engagement, and nature contribute to positive youth development. Findings underscore the value of expanding opportunities beyond school settings to support aspirations, life skills, and community connections.
Afterschool Programs and Academic Achievement: This study investigates the relationship between afterschool program participation and academic performance among students in a Vermont school district. Results indicate a positive association between attendance and achievement while highlighting ongoing socioeconomic disparities in educational outcomes.
Resilience and High School Completion Among Black Youth: This study examines how contextual and relational resilience interact to influence high school completion among Black young adults. Findings emphasize the critical role of supportive caregiver relationships and suggest that relational supports can strengthen educational success.
Attitudes Toward Disability in Out-of-School Time Programs: This study explores adolescents’ attitudes toward individuals with disabilities in out-of-school time settings. Results provide insights that can inform efforts to create more inclusive programs and foster greater acceptance and participation.
Rhode Island Teen Institute: This evaluation examines the feasibility and impact of the Rhode Island Teen Institute following its return after a decade-long hiatus. Findings demonstrate high participant satisfaction and significant gains in leadership, communication, self-efficacy, and well-being.
Developmentally Nurturant Relationships in South Africa: This qualitative study explores how youth development practitioners in rural South Africa foster supportive relationships with young people. Findings highlight the importance of mentorship, life-skill development, and opportunities for youth contribution as key features of effective programming.
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
Good day JYD Readers,
The Journal of Youth Development (JYD) has published its latest issue (21.2) at https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/jyd.
This issue brings together research and practice scholarship that examines how youth development programs, relationships, and learning environments contribute to positive outcomes across diverse populations and contexts. Collectively, the articles highlight strategies for strengthening inclusion, resilience, leadership, engagement, and learning while advancing understanding of how youth-serving organizations can better support thriving among all young people.
Articles in this issue address:
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