Positive Youth Development Principles in Practice - by Peter Samuelson (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This open access book tells the story of eight youth service organizations in the USA, using the voices of the impacted youth and the staff who accompanied them. Drawing on a series of structured interviews with young people and staff and informed by positive youth development (PYD), ideas the author proposes nine principles for working with youth from under-resourced neighborhoods that can be applied to any youth organization"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

This open access book tells the story of eight youth service organizations in the USA, using the voices of the impacted youth and the staff who accompanied them. Drawing on a series of structured interviews with young people and staff and informed by positive youth development (PYD), ideas the author proposes nine universal principles for working with youth from under-resourced neighborhoods that can be applied to any youth organization. The principles include orienting youth towards a purposeful future, providing an opportunity to build academic and critical thinking abilities, and developing individual's identity and sense of agency. The book contributes to the emerging methodology of principles-focused evaluation and draws on range of disciplines including psychology, education and youth studies.

The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by the Thrive Foundation.

Review Quotes

A synthesis of wisdom from youth, mentors, seasoned organizations, and scholars, Positive Youth Principlespresents a critical analysis of what makes youth service organizations 'near perfect' solutions for youth thriving. Samuelson's nine principles form a deeply insightful blueprint for why and how to make it all work.

This book offers a compelling look at how exemplary youth service organizations foster positive outcomes in marginalized youth. Through rich qualitative data and a principles-focused approach, Samuelson illuminates the crucial role of caring adult relationships, supportive communities, and opportunities for identity development. Essential reading for anyone working to create positive environments where all young people can flourish.

Who does not want all kids to thrive? But what does that mean and how do you do it? Dr. Peter Samuelson deftly paves a path forward for practitioners and parents pointing to the essential elements of establishing a nurturing and transforming fit between youth and their surrounding communities. Drawing on cutting edge psychological theory, methodology, and practice, Dr. Samuelson emphasizes the often overlooked reality that thriving youth require thriving ecologies. His hopeful rendering of the topography of youth today conveys how to create a transformative fit between a young person and their environment allowing young people to grow into their strengths with and for and thrive.

About the Author

Peter L. Samuelson (Rev. Dr.) is the former Senior Director of Evaluation and Impact at Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota and Former Director of Research and Evaluation at the Thrive Foundation for Youth, USA. He is co-author, with Ian M. Church, of Intellectual Humility (Bloomsbury, 2017).