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Funding for Youth Development
Positive Experiences + Positive Relationships + Positive Environments = Positive Youth Development
PYD is an intentional, prosocial approach that engages youth within their communities, schools, organizations, peer groups, and families in a manner that is productive and constructive; recognizes, utilizes, and enhances young people's strengths; and promotes positive outcomes for young people by providing opportunities, fostering positive relationships, and furnishing the support needed to build on their leadership strengths.
The Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs developed a research agenda focused on positive youth development. Through a collaborative consensus-building process, representatives from federal agencies identified three research domains (conceptual issues, data sources and indicators, and program implementation and effectiveness) and key research questions that could benefit from future research.
PYD has its origins in the field of prevention. In the past, prevention efforts typically focused on single problems before they surfaced in youth, such as teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and juvenile delinquency.
Over time, practitioners, policymakers, funders, and researchers determined that promoting positive asset building and considering young people as resources were critical strategies. As a result, the youth development field began examining the role of resiliency - the protective factors in a young person's environment - and how these factors could influence one's ability to overcome adversity. Those factors included, but were not limited to, family support and monitoring; caring adults; positive peer groups; strong sense of self, self-esteem, and future aspirations; and engagement in school and community activities.
Researchers and practitioners began to report that young people who possess a diverse set of protective factors can, in fact, experience more positive outcomes. These findings encouraged the development of interventions and programs that reduce risks and strengthen protective factors. The programs and interventions are strengthened when they involve and engage youth as equal partners, ultimately providing benefits for both for the program and the involved youth.
Source: youth.gov
Foundation and philanthropic support for youth development from around the Web.
Foundation: Arkansas Community Foundation
The Arkansas Black Hall of Fame (ABHF) Foundation welcomes grant proposals for its annual grant program. In collaboration with the Arkansas Community Foundation, ABHF will award grants to approved...more
Foundation: Community Foundation of Osceola County
Five areas of Osceola County will receive its share of $82,781.67 from the Community Foundation of Osceola County. The areas are home to 27 nonprofit organizations that cater to human services,...more
The Michael Saunders Foundation awarded $15,000 to 14 area organizations. Grant recipients are: Women's Sertoma Club of Venice, Community Coalition on Homelessness (Manatee County), Boys & Girls...more
Foundation: Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, Communities Foundation of Texas
Amy Ruth of Randolph Central High School, pursuing nursing at Virginia Commonwealth University is the 2012 awardee of the John J. Murphy Family Scholarship--a $10,000 scholarship, with $2,500 awarded...more
Foundation: Placer Community Foundation
Placer Community Foundation is now accepting grant applications for its Youth Development Program and priority will be given to projects that serve economically disadvantaged youth, and whose...more
The TK Foundation will be awarding 8 grants totaling almost $2 million for maritime programs and youth development. The recipients of the grants are the World Maritime University, Center for Naval...more
The TK Foundation announced that it will continue to support the Mercy Ships Technical Training Fund with a $225,750 grant in 2012-2013 to that training for the hospital ship's maritime crew meets...more
The MAXIMUS Foundation has distributed nearly $100,000 in funding to 48 nonprofit organizations across America as part of its spring grant cycle. The Foundation provides financial assistance to...more
The Emirates Foundation will now focus on youth as announced by UAE-based philanthropic organization to be known as Emirates Foundation for Youth Development, which will also adhere to a new business...more
Foundation: Northern New York Community Foundation
The Northern New York Community Foundation is seeking applications for $200,000 in grant funds dedicated to support child and youth development in Lewis County over the next two years. Nonprofit...more
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