2-034 - Youth Community Networks: Research Tools to Inform Practice and Measure Social Capital

Session Type: Paper Discussion Symposium

Integrative Statement

Strong relationships among adolescents, adults, and their community are a cornerstone of positive youth development (Larson et al., 2005). Implementing interventions that expand adolescents’ personal networks is a complex endeavor, and is often viewed as a secondary outcome within developmental programs. This symposium brings perspectives from Extension practitioners and researchers in examining innovative research instruments and participatory evaluation approaches for understanding social capital development in positive youth development programs.
Christens and Peterson (2012) argue that perceived efficacy and empowerment of youth in the sociopolitical domain ought to be considered core elements in the ecology of human development. This symposium draws from a multidisciplinary lens to highlight best practices in fostering connections at the community level, along with key assets associated with adolescents becoming contributing citizens (Scales et al, 2000).
Findings focus on individual adolescent and community outcomes including: rich inter-generational ties, changes in perceptions regarding adolescent participation in social change efforts, and the expansion of adolescents’ networks. Paper 1 focuses on a strategy for empowerment and participatory evaluation through mapping social capital produced in a multi-state rural community development project. Paper 2 presents a validated survey used by practitioners to assess the development of social capital in a structured youth development setting. Paper 3 highlights the role of social network analysis in documenting and tracking change within adolescents’ social ecologies.
This symposium will facilitate a research-practice dialogue regarding social capital, as well as implications for pathways that foster adolescents’ sense of belonging and connection to their communities.

Sub Unit

• Neighborhoods, Community and Out-of-School Time

Chair

• Matthew Calvert, University of Wisconsin-Extension

Individual Presentations

• Rural community youth development and civic identity: Mapping social change - Presenting Author: Steven Henness, University of Missouri Extension; Barbara Baker, University of Maine Cooperative Extension; Matthew Calvert, University of Wisconsin-Extension; Jane Haskell, University of Maine Cooperative Extension

• Social Capital Survey - Presenting Author: Nia Imani Fields, University of Maryland Extension; Keith Nathaniel, University of California Extension

• Youth-Adult Social Networks - Presenting Author: Mariah Kornbluh, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Joe Hankey, University of Wisconsin-Extension; Neil Klemme, University of Wisconsin-Extension; Christa Van Treeck, University of Wisconsin-Extension

Discussant

• Mary Arnold, Oregon State University Extension