4-H: The Positive Development Of Youth

For more than a decade, preeminent youth development scholars Dr. Richard M. Lerner and Dr. Jacqueline V. Lerner, and the team at the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University, Medford, Mass., partnered with faculty at America’s land-grant universities to conduct this ground breaking research.

Their research shows 4-H Youth excel beyond their peers. The longitudinal study discovered that the structured out-of-school time learning, leadership experiences, and adult mentoring that young people receive through their participation in 4-H plays a vital role in helping them achieve success.

Compared to their peers, the findings show that youth involved in 4-H programs excel in several areas:

Contribution/Civic

Engagement

4-H’ers are nearly 4 times more likely to make contributions to their communities (Grades 7-12)

4-H’ers are about 2 times more likely to be civically active (Grades 8-12)

Academic Achievement

4-H young people are nearly 2 times more likely to participate in Science, Engineering and Computer Technology programs during out-of-school time (Grades 10 – 12)

4-H girls are 2 times more likely (Grade 10) and nearly 3 times more likely (Grade 12) to take part in science programs compared to girls in other out-of-school time activities. (Data found in Science, Engineering and Computer Technology (SECT) section of report).

Healthy Living

4-H’ers are nearly 2 times more likely to make healthier choices (Grade 7)

Developing Strategies

The research is helping families, schools, communities and youth programs develop strategies to support children and adolescents. Effective youth development programs like 4-H are putting the research to work by focusing on three important areas:

Positive and sustained relationships between youth and adults

Activities that build important life skills

Opportunities for youth to use these skills as participants and leaders in valued community activities

The study assessed the key characteristics of PYD — competence, confidence, character, connection and caring — followed by the impact of valued community programs, including 4-H.

About 4-H

4-H is a community of seven million young people around the world learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of the Cooperative Extension System and 4-H National Headquarters located at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In the United States, 4-H programs are implemented by the 109 land-grant universities and Cooperative Extension through more than 3,000 local offices serving every county and parish in the country. Outside the United States, 4-H programs operate through independent, country-led organizations in more than 50 countries.

Learn more about 4-H at www.4-H.org, find 4-H on Facebook at www.facebook. com/4-H, and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ 4H.