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A National Program-Outcomes Study
Did You Know... You Can Now Donate Online?
A National Program-Outcomes Study
Conducted by Louis Harris & Associates
The Exploring program contributes to the healthy
development of today's young adults by providing them with the
environment, news, and relationships they need to learn and grow.
This study addresses the issue of how healthy development is fostered
by addressing a key question that a growing number of organizations
concerned with youth development have attempted to answer: What are the
specific components or elements of youth development that contribute to
healthy, positive outcomes?
Two organizations in particular, the Carnegie Council on
Adolescent Development and the Search Institute, have focused attention
on desirable traits that youth programs should address. The Carnegie
Council, after a decade-long research effort, offers the following 10
conditions as "fundamental human requirements"* that must be met if
children are to grow up to be healthy, constructive adults:
 - Develop sustained, caring relationships
with adults.
- Receive guidance in facing serious
challenges.
- Become a valued member of a constructive
peer group.
- Feel a sense of worth as a person.
- Become socially competent.
- Know how to use support systems.
- Achieve a reliable basis for making
informed choices.
- Participate in the constructive
(age-related) expression of curiosity and exploration.
- Believe in a promising future with real
opportunities.
- Find ways of being useful to others.
Similarly, youth development researchers at the Search
Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota, have developed the following
framework of developmental assets that give young people a strong
foundation for life:**
 - Support -
Receive support from family, teachers, and other adults.
- Empowerment -
Feel useful and safe.
- Boundaries and expectations - Move in an environment with rules, structure,
and high expectations.
- Constructive use of time - Spend time creatively on hobbies, with friends, and
in religious functions.
- Commitment to learning - Engage in learning and spend time daily on
schoolwork and other reading.
- Positive values - Learn honesty, integrity, personal responsibility, as
well as to care for others, and act on this knowledge.
- Social competencies - Develop respect for others and become
comfortable with people of different cultures.
- Positive identity - Develop a sense of
purpose and self-worth.
From the important youth-development variables
identified by these two comprehensive sources, several common elements
emerge. Integrating these common elements yields the following six
critical elements of healthy youth development:
- Strong personal values and character
- A positive sense of self-worth and
usefulness
- Caring and nurturing relationships with
parents, other adults, and peers
- A desire to learn
- Productive/creative use of time
- Social adeptness
The results of this report demonstrate that the Exploring program
addresses each of these important elements.
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Exploring exists to accomplish a major goal: To
provide the structure and news needed for the youth of America to
learn about career opportunities, to make ethical choices, and to
achieve their full potential as individuals. In a new study,
researchers at Louis Harris & Associates have
built on the work of two particular organizations, the Carnegie Council
on Adolescent Development and the Search Institute, that are pioneers
in the study of desirable characteristics that youth programs should
foster. |
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| * |
Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development; Great
Transitions, Preparing Adolescents for a New Century, page 49. |
| ** |
Peter L. Benson, Ph.D.; Judy Galbraith, M.A.; and
Pamela Espeland; What Teens Need to Succeed; Search Institute
and Free Spirit Publishing, 1998. |
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Did you know... you can now donate online?
Exploring is Learning for Life's career and character education program for high school-aged
youth (up to 20 years old)--designed to help young people become responsible and caring adults.
Based on unique partnerships with local community organizations, Exploring provides experiences to help youth achieve their full potential. These youth may gain insight into a future vocation, develop leadership skills, and provide service to others. All in all, Exploring provides a program of activities that helps youth pursue their special interests, grow, and develop. We need your help to continue providing Exploring to our community's youth! Here's your chance to give to a great cause!
 Click here to get started!
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