Ethnic Minority Youth in Youth Programs

Abstract

The authors examine perceptions that young people hold regarding their participation in community-based youth programs. Specifically, this study assesses young people’s sense of psychological safety, their relationships with adult staff, their learning of social skills, and how different ethnic groups experience these factors. Data for the study come from a national evaluation study of youth programs. Participants in this study include 272 White, 100 Asian or Pacific Islander, 61 African American, and 57 Hispanic youth. The results indicate that African American youth are more likely to feel psychologically safe and to have positive relationships with adult staff compared to the other youth. In addition, with the exception of African American youth, the associations between feeling safe and having positive relationships with adult staff and perception of learning social skills were significantly related. The possible explanations of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.

Student Readiness to Learn and Teacher Effectiveness: Two Key Factors in Middle Grades Mathematics Achievement

“…The connection students feel with a group can positively or negatively affect their academic outcomes (Lee, Borden, Serido, & Perkins, 2009). Turner and Braine (2015) conducted a study of 32 teachers to determine whether there is a connection between safety and student performance.…”

Relevance of student and contextual school variables in explaining a student’s severity of violence experienced

“…It may be that, at schools that have relatively more older students, or more young males than young females, and so on (see the student level in Figure 1), each student in Relevance of student and contextual school variables 6 the school experiences more violent behaviour than students attending schools with other or opposite characteristics (cf. also Lee, Borden, Serido, & Perkins, 2009;Matjasko, 2011).…”

Youth Motivations for Program Participation

“…Studies find that, compared to family and community factors, time spent in youth programs is the most consistent predictor of youth thriving (Borden, Perkins, Villarruel, Carlton Hug, Stone, & Keith, 2006). Participation in youth programs has been shown to offer young people the opportunity to acquire: a positive identity; respect for others; decision-making skills; positive values; family and community support; meaningful roles and empowerment; new physical, social, and intellectual skills; opportunities to develop and express passion and creativity; constructive use of time; and meaningful relationships with adults (Earls & Carlson, 2002;Eccles, Barber, Stone, & Hunt, 2003;Eccles & Gootman, 2002;Hart, 1992;Lee, Borden, Serido, & Perkins, 2009;Mahoney, Larson, & Eccles, 2005;Perkins, Borden, & Villarruel, 2001;Scales & Leffert, 1999;Serido, Borden & Perkins, 2011). Youth program participation has also been found to be negatively associated with substance use, antisocial behavior and delinquency, school misconduct and failure, and early unprotected sex (Dryfoos, 1998;Hawkins, Catalano, & Miller, 1992;Mahatmya, & Lohman, 2011;Oetting & Donnermeyer, 1998;.…”

“…Participation in youth programs also assists youth in overcoming adversity, thereby increasing their willingness to engage in efforts to help others, enhancing leadership qualities, increasing their efforts to maintain good physical health, and expanding their involvement in political and social activities in young adulthood (Holland & Andre, 1987;Scales, Benson, Leffert, & Blyth, 2000;Scales & Leffert, 1999;Quinn, 1995). These experiences often provide young people a first opportunity for a meaningful connection to their communities (Zeldin, 2000), including caring adults (Lee et al, 2009;Serido et al, 2011), and an opportunity to engage in civic actions/education (Camino & Zeldin, 2002;Finlay, Flanagan, & Wray-Lake, 2011;Lerner, 2004;Nicholson, Collins, & Homer, 2004). Thus, the decision to participate or not participate in a youth program must be understood from a young person's own decisions regarding a particular context.…”