Preparing Teens for a Bright Future
April 18, 2020
By Upland Community Resource Center
All kids have a lot to offer. It turn out kids aren’t always prepared to deliver on their own potential. Therefore, it takes other people and programs to help them. Now, stop and think back to your own youth, what do you wish you’d learned in your teens?
Positive Youth Development
According to one source, positive youth development can accomplish several outcomes.
- Contribute to a range of positive outcomes.
- Prevent a variety of risk behaviors.
- Result in robust and sustained impacts.
- Have the potential to reduce health disparities.
6 C’s of Positive Youth Development
For example, an article by Lisa Bottomley of MSU points out that youth who display the five C’s are less likely to behave negatively and more likely to be developmentally on target. The five Cs are:
- Competence
- Confidence
- Connection,
- Caring/Compassion
- Character
Contribution, a sixth C is attained when a person has more fully realized the five C’s.
Bright Futures
So, what can all of us – Kids, Parents, People, Programs – do to help teens develop Bright Futures? First, agree it’s important. Second, decide to be part of the process. Next, look for opportunities in your community. Finally, understand it’s a learning and growing process for everybody involved. Remember, bright futures don’t happen overnight but they can happen over time.
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This is amazing! I wish I had this information and resources when I was a teen. I am super excited to see how individuals and families will benefit from the resources provided by the Upland Community Resource Center.