Youth empowerment solutions for positive youth development: Engaging middle school youth in their communities

Background: Researchers have found that participation in out-of-school programs enhances adolescents' well being and sense of worth, involves them in positive behaviors, and helps them avoid problem behaviors. Although theoretically important elements of successful after-school programs have been proposed, the processes through which these elements work to achieve positive youth outcomes have rarely been examined empirically. We test the effectiveness of a positive youth development intervention based on empowerment and ecological theories in a sample of youth from low-income districts. Methods: This longitudinal randomized controlled trial compares 7th graders assigned to an after-school program that includes training in leadership, community assessment, project planning and resource mobilization, with 7th graders assigned to standard after-school programs. Youth Empowerment Solutions for Positive Youth Development (YES) uses an empowering ecologically-focused, community-based strategy to promote positive youth development and reduce risk behavior. Youth are recruited at eight public middle schools when entering Grade 7 and are followed up through Grade 8. The conceptual model suggests that the YES program will enhance youth empowerment, resulting in more positive developmental outcomes (e.g. school and community engagement), and fewer problem behaviors (e.g. violence, substance use) compared to standard programming. Results: We will present challenges and lessons learned during the implementation of the YES program and initial results from the first cohort of YES participants. Conclusions: After-school settings provide a unique opportunity to deliver health promotion programs to youth. Programs based on an empowerment model which engages youth in their communities can contribute to positive developmental outcomes.