Promoting Positive Youth Development

This white paper, by the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST) in association with the Forum for Youth Investment, investigates how after-school programs can most effectively promote positive youth development as a support to academic achievement. The paper intends to 1) provide a brief overview of learning theory; 2) explain the features and rationale of the positive youth development approach; 3) provide local and national examples of programs utilizing positive youth development strategies to support youth development and academic achievement; 4) articulate the particular challenges facing Boston in its efforts to build the capacity of after-school programs to promote positive youth development; and 5) provide both short-term and long-term recommendations regarding actions and policy activities.