Definition of Community Youth Development

A Definition in Four Parts
Community youth development is an integration of youth development and community development. The first three parts of the definition described below address youth development. These three parts are taken directly from Hamilton's "Youth development: A definition in three parts" (Cited in Lerner, 2001).

1. A natural process: the growing capacity of a young person to understand and act upon the environment. Youth development (synonymous in this sense with child and adolescent development) is the natural unfolding of the potential inherent in the human organism in relation to the challenges and supports of the physical and social environment. People can actively shape their own development through their choices and interpretations. Development lasts as long as life, but youth development enables individuals to lead a healthy, satisfying, productive life, as youth and later as adults, because they gain the competence to earn a living, to engage in civic activities, to nurture others, and to participate in social relations and cultural activities. "The Five C's" are a useful summary of the goals of youth development: caring/compassion, competence, character, connection, and confidence. The process of development may be divided into age-related stages (infancy, childhood, adolescence, and smaller divisions of these stages) and into domains (notably physical cognitive, social, emotional, and moral).
   
2. A philosophy or approach: active support for the growing capacity of young people by individuals, organizations, and institutions especially at the community level. The youth development approach is rooted in commitment to enabling all young people to achieve their potential. It is characterized by a positive, asset-building orientation, building on strengths rather than categorizing youth according to their deficits. However, it recognizes the need to identify and respond to specific problems faced by some youth (e.g., substance abuse, involvement in violence, and premature parenthood). The most important manifestation of youth development as a philosophy or approach is the goal of making communities better places for young people to grow up. Youth participation is essential to the achievement of that goal.
   
3. Programs and organizations: a planned set of activities that foster young peopleís growing capacity. Youth development programs are inclusive, participation is not limited to those identified as at risk or in need. They give young people the chance to make decisions about their own participation and about the program's operation, and to assume responsible roles. They engage young people in constructive and challenging activities that build their competence and foster supportive relationships with peers and with adults. They are developmentally appropriate and endure over time, which requires them to be adaptable enough to change as participants' needs change. Youth development is done with and by youth. Something that is done to or for youth is not youth development, even though it may be necessary and valuable. Youth development organizations exist specifically for the purpose of promoting youth development. Some other organizations operate youth development programs but have other functions as well. Programs to prevent or treat specific problems stand in contrast to youth development programs; however, problem-oriented programs may incorporate youth development principles by acknowledging participantsí strengths and the wider range of issues they must cope with and by giving participants a strong voice in the choice to participate and in the operation of the program.
   
4. Partnerships for the community: collaboration and teamwork define the relationships between adults and youth on behalf of their communities. Of course, youth participation is required in every step of programming process (e.g., planning, implementation, and evaluation), but just as important is youth participation in their community. Youth are fully invested in their community and are empowered as full partners to provide direction, insight, energy, and efforts around problem-solving for the community. Youth are full contributors to community and are called upon to employ the skills and competencies that they are developing. Indeed, youth have a right and a civic responsibility to participate and contribute to their communities. Youth participation is essential to youthís development and to the thriving of communities and the institutions within those communities. Youth participation involves learning and work that is woven throughout the community not just in specific projects (Pittman, 2000a). If engaged as partners, youth can be powerful change agents for the betterment of their community. Thus, the engagement in the community represents the fourth leg of this stool known as community youth development. Pittman (2000, p. 35-36) summarizes this point in the following quote.
   

We will have to work carefully in this country to identify or create the public ideas that undergird a sustained effort to bring all young people into civic, social, and economic arenas of their communities as lifelong learners, workers, and change agents. We must recognize that this public idea, like any stable platform, must have at least three legs: one leg in policy, one in public opinion and values, and a third in organizational practice. We could argue for the importance of a fourth leg in youth culture, for this idea must resonate with young people, tap into their resources, and unleash their potential.

References

• Lerner, R. M. (2001). Adolescence: Development, diversity, context, and application. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
• Pittman, K. J. (2000). Balancing the equation: Communities supporting youth, youth supporting communities. Community Youth Development Journal, 1, 33-36.