Posts

Measuring youth outcomes from a place of strength

By Katy White, Youth Collaboratory For over 100 years, the youth development field has predominantly taken a deficit-based approach to youth services. Addressing this period of “storm and stress” in adolescent development by focusing on the things we want to avoid. That’s how we come to have programs and approaches that are focused on things […]

Emotional health check-ins during COVID-19

By Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Boys & Girls Club of America The top priority of the whole country right now is to stay healthy. And while we recognize that right now physical health is the biggest focus, kid’s emotional health is just as important. Try to incorporate emotional check-ins into your daily schedule […]

Youth with disabilities find positivity during COVID-19 pandemic

By Deandra Mouzon, Youth Today Amid all the worrying and doubt about the coronavirus, young people with disabilities are finding ways to stay positive. Staying at home does limit activities for everyone, but I have found that people with disabilities, both youth and adults, are finding creative ways to spend their time. Whether it is […]

Online educational resources for parents during COVID-19

By Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Boys & Girls Club of America In a few short weeks, our lives have changed dramatically due to the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. To help navigate this new normal, Boys & Girls Clubs of America is sharing free, online resources to help them manage their child(ren)’s virtual […]

Are youth mentoring programs effective? New analysis sheds light

By Elizabeth Raposa and Jean Rhodes, Youth Today Are boys more responsive to mentoring than girls? The findings are mixed, though recent studies seem to suggest that boys may derive additional benefits. Does mentoring move the needle more for certain outcomes (e.g., depression, behavior, academics)? Again, findings are mixed, with the most recent comprehensive meta-analysis showing very few differential […]

Remote learning also works for special education students

By Max Balton, Youth Today NEW YORK — Maxwell Benjamin sits in front of a grilled cheese sandwich cut into bite-sized pieces. His mother Susie Wong-Benjamin encourages him to take bites and chew because he prefers softer foods like spaghetti and mashed potatoes. She’s guided remotely by his speech therapist, who joins them through a […]

Schools prize standardized tests over student growth

By Marcene Robinson, Futurity Personal growth and job skills have taken a backseat to an increased focus on standardized tests in schools across the United States, according to new research. The study, which analyzed the educational goals of principals at thousands of public, private, and charter schools over two decades, found the shift in priorities is most […]

It’s OK to grieve the loss of rituals during COVID-19

By Lori Harwood, Futurity As people around the world self-isolate to slow the spread of COVID-19, many time-honored rituals, including graduations, proms, weddings, and even funerals have been canceled. The absence of these rituals at such a stressful time is no trifling loss, says Maribel Alvarez, an associate research professor in the School of Anthropology […]

7 things ease the switch to remote-only workplaces

By Edmund L. Andrews, Futurity Remote-only organizations pose complex management challenges. Two scholars share their thoughts on how to navigate our sudden new reality. In the span of a single month, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced companies and organizations of all types to have almost all of their employees work remotely from home. Has the […]

A 20-minute dose of nature can cut your stress

By Jim Erickson, Futurity “In this time of uncertainty, social isolation, and adjustment to a different lifestyle, spending time in nature—while maintaining proper social distancing, of course—is one type of antidote for our distress,” says MaryCarol Hunter. Spending just 20 minutes in nature can significantly lower stress hormone levels, researchers say. The benefits of experiencing […]