1-116 - Balancing Business and Youth Outcomes: An Organizational Strategy for Positive Youth Development

Session Type: Conversation Roundtable

Integrative Statement

Youth programs lie at the heart of applied developmental science; dedicated to the integration of developmental theory, community need and youth interest to build and deliver experiences that will prepare all young people to be the next generation of leaders (Lerner, Fisher & Weinberg, 2000). Research conducted in these real-world settings has made significant contributions to our understanding of child development, and the insights gained have established indicators of effective environments, programs and professionals, (Roth & Brooks-Gunn, 2003; Durlak & Weissberg, 2007), as well as recognized the relational nature of youth experiences across contexts and its’ impact on understanding developmental outcomes (Lerner & Castellino, 2002; Overton, 2013). While efforts in applied developmental science have certainly expanded the ability of community programs to work more effectively with youth, limited guidance exists on how a national organization should be structured to support and sustain high-quality program implementation, continuous improvement, and outcomes evaluation at the local and national levels, while simultaneously responding to national demands for serving vulnerable youth.

This conversational roundtable brings together experts from four prominent national nonprofit organizations that have shaped the youth development landscape in America for more than 100 years. Guided by the overarching question “How do best practices in business and best practices in youth development intersect?” panelists from Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Boy Scouts of America, Wyman Center and Girls Inc., will facilitate an interactive conversation that illuminates challenges and differing approaches to measuring and maximizing impact while nationally scaling effective youth development programs.

Sub Unit

• Prevention and Interventions

Moderator

• Krista Collins, Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Panelists

• Jennifer Bateman, Boys & Girls Clubs of America

• Daniel Warren, Boy Scouts of America

• Karen Guskin, Wyman Center

• Cristin Eleanor Rollins, Girls Inc.