Visit the following websites to find useful
information about promoting positive youth development. Each
link below will open a new window.
4-H Youth Development (www.oznet.ksu.edu/4hyp) 4-H
is the youth development branch of the Cooperative Extension
Service, a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Each county has access to an Extension office for both
youth and adult programs.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (www.bbbs.org)
a national youth-service organization that, through its volunteers,
creates and nurtures relationships between adults and children.
Boy Scouts of America (BSA
-National Council) (www.scouting.org)
The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young
people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes
by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
Boys and Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org)
Boys & Girls Clubs are a safe place to learn and grow — all
while having fun.
Bureau for At-Risk Youth (www.at-risk.com)
1-800-99-youth
a website by The Guidance Channel™ that supplies guidance and prevention
materials for K-12 schools, youth service and juvenile justice organizations.
Its mission is to provide children, students, parents, adults and professionals
with timely and effective tools that help them or their clients make critical
life choices. Products include multimedia programs, videos, curricula, information
handouts, therapeutic games, prevention-awareness items, etc.
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Center for Youth Health Promotion (www.epi.umn.edu/cyhp/resource.htm) lists
projects completed by the Center for Youth Health Promotion,
Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University
of Minnesota. The projects are categorized as one of the
following:
- Alcohol, Drug and Violence Programs
- Nutrition and Physical Activity
Programs
- Tobacco Programs
Child Welfare League of America (www.cwla.org)
Children's advocacy organization active in lobbying and humanitarian
projects in the US.
Children’s Alliance of Kansas (www.childally.org)
association representing private, non-profit child welfare
agencies, established in 1954 to help agencies better serve
the children of Kansas and their families
Children's Defense Fund (www.childrensdefense.org)
The mission of the Children's Defense Fund is to Leave No
Child Behind® and to ensure every child a Healthy Start,
a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start
in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help
of caring families and communities.
Coming Up Taller (www.cominguptaller.org)
Arts and Humanities Programs for Children and Youth at Risk
Connect for Kids (www.connectforkids.org)
Connect for Kids helps adults make their communities better
places for families and children. It offers a place on the
Internet for adults who want to become more active citizens,
from volunteering to voting with kids in mind.
Families Together – Kansas (www.familiestogetherinc.com)
Families Together is a statewide non-profit organization
serving families in Kansas which include a son or daughter
with a disability.
Family and Youth Services Bureau – Resources
on Youth Development (www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/Resources-YD.htm)
The youth development approach focuses on giving young
people the chance to exercise leadership, build skills,
form relationships with caring adults, and help their communities.
Further, the youth development approach acknowledges both
that youth are resources in rebuilding communities and
that helping young people requires strengthening families
and communities.
The website includes resources that provide
community members with strategies for building a vision for
young people that is based on the youth development approach.
Family Education.com (www.familyeducation.com)
is created by parents for parents. It includes homework help,
parenting tips, and expert advice.
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Girl Scouts of the
USA (www.girlscouts.org)
is dedicated solely to girls — all girls — where,
in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build
character and skills for success in the real world. In
partnership with committed adult volunteers, Girl Scouts
cultivate their full individual potential.
Governor's Advisory Committee on Children
and Families (www.kschildrenscabinet.org)
The 1999 Legislative session created the Kansas Children's
Cabinet to oversee the expenditures from the Master Tobacco
Settlement. Ninety-five percent of the state's portion
of the Master Tobacco Settlement was dedicated to improving
the health and well-being of children and youth in the
state.
How Do Structured Out of School Activities
Contribute to Positive Youth Development?
This website (www.fcs.iastate.edu/nc1002/)
describes a 5-year study that is funded by the Department of Agriculture. The
website explains the research project and provides links to other positive
youth development resources. It is hosted by Iowa State University's Department
of Human Development and Family Studies.
Juvenile Justice Authority of Kansas (jja.state.ks.us)
a criminal justice agency, its mission is to promote public
safety by holding juvenile offenders accountable for their
behavior and to improve the ability of youth to live productively
and responsibly in their communities.
Kansas Action for Children (KAC)
(www.kac.org)
TEL: (785) 232-0550 The mission of KAC is to act as a change
agent of policies and systems to ensure that the needs and
rights of children in the state of Kansas are met. Quite
simply, our mission is "speaking up for children."
Kansas Children’s Service League (KCSL)
(www.kcsl.org)
TEL: (785) 274-3100 KCSL’s mission is to protect and
promote the well-being of all Kansas children. There are
offices throughout the state. KCSL provides a continuum of
programs and services, advocates for children, and collaborates
with other public and private agencies to increase effectiveness
and promote efficiency and quality.
Kansas State Department of Education (www.ksbe.state.ks.us)
is charged with the general supervision of public education
and other educational interests in the state. While clearly
acknowledging the role and importance of local control, the
State Board of Education has the responsibility to provide
direction and leadership for the supervision of all state
educational institutions under its jurisdiction.
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National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC),
(ericps.ed.uiuc.edu/nccic/orgs/orglist.html)
a project of the Child Care Bureau, Administration for Children
and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
is a national resource that links information and people
to complement, enhance, and promote the child care delivery
system, working to ensure that all children and families
have access to high-quality comprehensive services.
National Head Start Association (NHSA)
(www.nhsa.org)
is a private not-for-profit membership organization dedicated
exclusively to meeting the needs of Head Start children and
their families. NHSA advocates for policies that strengthen
services to Head Start children and their families; by provides
extensive training and professional development to Head Start
staff; and develops and disseminates research, information,
and resources that enrich Head Start program delivery.
National PTA – Parent/Teacher
Association (www.pta.org)
is a not-for-profit association of parents, educators,
students, and other citizens active in their schools and
communities.
National School Safety Center (NSSC)
(www.nssc1.org)
NSSC "wants schools to be safe, secure and effective
places of learning." The website offers online resources
and sells products such as books and videos.
National School Age Care Alliance (NSACA)
(www.nsaca.org)
NSACA’s mission is to build a profession that develops,
supports and promotes quality after-school programs for children
and youth. A national membership organization representing
public, private, and community-based providers of after school
programs, NSACA promotes national standards of quality school-age
care for children and youth 5 - 14 years old, and grants
accreditation to programs meeting the standards.
Problem Solver, The (www.problemsolver.org) a
monthly newsletter (available by subscription) for children's
programs. The articles address common predicaments such as
crying infants, biting toddlers, stressed-out teachers, questioning
parents, and boring staff meetings. According to the website,
the articles "will help enrich your learning environment,
improve your program, enhance your curriculum, and answer
your questions."
Search Institute (www.search-institute.org)
Search Institute's vision is a world where all young people
are valued and thrive. Its mission is to provide leadership,
knowledge, and resources to promote healthy children, youth,
and communities.
Structured Out-of-School Experiences (www.fcs.iastate.edu/nc1002) "How
Do Structured Out-Of-School Experiences Contribute To Positive
Youth Development?" is the title of a project being
conducted at Iowa State University. After-school hours
are times of great risk for unsupervised youth, and parents
need safe alternatives for their youth. This page is compiled
by Dr. Ronald J. Werner-Wilson, Associate Professor and
Director of Family Therapy Program and Clinic in Iowa State
University's Department of Human Development and Family
Studies.
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