Flipping the Script: Redefining Outcomes in Summer Youth Employment Programs
Greene, J., & Seefeldt, K. (2023). Learning from youth: Using positive outcomes to evaluate summer youth employment programs. Journal of Adolescent Research, 38(5), 876–910. https://doi.org/10.1177/07435584211043295
Introduction
Summer Youth Employment Programs (SYEPs) have historically been assessed through a deficit lens, focusing on reducing disparities like crime or dropout rates, without addressing the systemic forces that create them. In Learning From Youth: Using Positive Outcomes to Evaluate Summer Youth Employment Programs, Greene and Seefeldt (2023) challenge this framing by offering an alternative: evaluating success through the eyes of youth themselves. Using the Five Cs of Positive Youth Development (PYD)—competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring—they explore the strengths of Michigan’s SummerWorks program as experienced by its 2019 participants.
Methods
The authors used a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the SummerWorks program. Data came from surveys (n = 66) and a focus group with youth aged 16–24 (median Age = 17.5). Most respondents identified as Black (57%), with gender split evenly between men and women; 3% identified as transgender or nonconforming. Surveys included both closed- and open-ended questions on confidence, skills, and experiences. Participants were placed in paid internships, attended weekly professional development workshops, and received mentorship from “Success Coaches.”Qualitative data were thematically analyzed using the Five Cs of Positive Youth Development as a guiding framework to explore youth-defined outcomes.
Results
Youth reported increased confidence, independence, and workplace readiness. Many described being treated as professionals and gaining leadership experience. Mentorship and peer relationships fostered connection and social capital, with 83% identifying a trusted adult. Participants also gained access to jobs and professional opportunities typically unavailable to their age group. These outcomes aligned with key PYD principles, showing how SummerWorks supports youth growth beyond traditional SYEP metrics like crime reduction or academic achievement.
Discussion
This study critiques SYEP research that focuses on “fixing” youth through short-term behavioral change without addressing systemic barriers. By grounding evaluation in youth voices and the PYD framework, the authors model an anti-deficit, anti-racist approach. Their findings suggest that programs like SummerWorks support holistic development, even if they don’t immediately alter long-term employment trajectories. The emphasis on connection and competence, bolstered by supportive relationships and real-world experiences, suggests that SYEPs may offer more than just summer jobs; they can catalyze long-lasting personal growth.
Implications for Mentoring Programs
Mentoring was central to participants’ experience of connection, confidence, and access. The structure of SummerWorks, where each intern is paired with a mentor and success coach, fostered strong, trust-based relationships. These relationships empowered youth to take initiative, seek guidance, and imagine new futures. For mentoring programs, this highlights the importance of pairing career readiness with relational depth. Building mentorship into employment programming can be a transformative practice, especially when mentors are trained to value youth agency and lived experience.
Read the full paper here
