Where need meets Opportunity

 Addressing the needs of low-income adolescents (youth)

In her article, Jane Quinn referenced data from opinion polls “of public concern of the nation’s youth.” The polls showed:

·         A support for public programs that help schools and families provide guidance for adolescents

·         93% of parents and non-parents support expansion of after school activities

·         Over 80% would be willing to use tax dollars for that purpose

·         That parents and non-parents worry that American society does not offer enough constructive activities or meaningful roles for the young

·         60% view after-school programs as an effective way to help young people

This call for extra-curricular programming is addressed by five types of positive youth development programs: National Youth-Serving Organizations (Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, etc), Programs sponsored by Public Agencies (public libraries, parks and recreation systems), Youth Sports Organizations (American Youth Soccer Organization), Broad Based Private Organizations (religious organizations, service clubs like rotary and Kiwanis, and intergenerational programs like museums), and Independent Youth Organizations/grassroots organizations.

This blog focuses on low-income families and museums. For this purpose, I will only define the characteristics of Broad Based Private Organizations. These organizations are mostly comprised of religious organizations, adult service organizations that sponsor junior organizations, and museums. They report higher participation with youths between the age of 10 and 15. Rely heavily on volunteers and youth to adult mentoring in some form. They also encourage peer mentoring and sharing and educational enriching activities.

Quinn states that organizations reaching out to youth should support the ongoing growth process of adolescents and meet their basic needs (safety, caring relationships, and connections to the larger community while striving to build academic, vocational, personal, and social skills). Broad Based Organizations, especially museums, try to meet these conditions as well as others such as building on the youths’ strength, recognizing their need for both ongoing support and challenging opportunities, and seeking to prevent problems not fix them.

Adolescents need opportunities for:

·         Physical activity

·         Development of competence and achievement

·         Self definition

·         Creative expression

·         Positive social interaction with peers and adults

·         A sense of structure and clear limits

·         Meaningful participation in authentic work

Some Museum programs that meet the above mentioned needs are:

The Miami Science Youth Programs

The programs focus on providing low income youth with training, mentoring, work experience, academic enrichment and skills in the use of technology, while improving their communication and interpersonal skills and self confidence. The Museum's approach has led to college and employment success stories among participants. The Youth programs provided students an alternative to the streets and a new way of thinking and planning for their future.

http://www.miamisci.org/www/education_youth.php

The Lied Discovery Children’s Museum in Las Vegas, NV

The museum’s YouthWorks program has been cited as a national model program for low-income, at risk youth by the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities. YouthWorks combines mentoring, job skills training, homework support, career and education guidance in a museum setting for underprivileged youth. The museum’s mission to serve children and families from economically and culturally diverse backgrounds is one of the main reasons for this program. Any high school student is eligible to participate in the volunteer program. Select teens are provided with paid, part-time employment. Only teens from low-income families are eligible for paid employment. Teens must remain in school in order to remain in the program.

http://www.ldcm.org/sup.php?id=14

The best practices ascribed by Quinn are:

·         Tailor their content and processes to the needs and interests of young adolescents.

·         Recognize, value, and respond to the diverse backgrounds and experiences that exist among young adolescents in contemporary America.

·         Work collectively as well as individually to extend their reach to undeserved adolescents

·         Actively compete for young people's time and attention.

·         Strengthen the quality and diversity of their adult leadership.

·         Reach out to families, schools, and other community partners in youth development.

·         Enhance the role of young people as community resources.

·         Serve as vigorous advocates for and with youths.

·         Specify and evaluate their intended outcomes.

·         Establish solid organizational structures, including energetic and committed board leadership.

If the museum programs mentioned above continue to strive to accomplish the best practices above, they will continue to be relevant and important to their communities. Even if these practices are used by the museums they still face five major issues. The first issue is participation. Participation in youth organizations tends to drop off during early adolescence. The assumptions are that existing programs may not meet the developmental needs or interests of young teens, adolescents have more freedom of choice what to do in their free-time more than younger children, and issues with how to get to and from programs. This leads us to the next issue which is access. Factors in participation and access for youths living in low-income areas include transportation, location of services (which includes safety considerations), and whether or not there are fees for services or for required items like uniforms. Issues with access also include whether youth feel welcomed at the organization or program. Issues of race, gender, and physical ability influence how youth perceive and react to certain programs. The third issue is funding. Funding is influenced by for things: diversity, instability, inadequacy, and inequity. Due to the nation’s current economic issues, funding is not what it used to be. Organizations are now competing more for less money. They have to be sure to have a diverse source of funding and not to depend on one source because funding is not stable. Lack of money can lead to inadequate programming and inequity of program offerings in poorer communities. The fourth issue is program effectiveness. Little systematic analysis of their effectiveness has been conducted for youth development programs.  The Last issue addressed in the article is coordination with other youth services.  Youth organizations must recognize that they need to work with other community organization, especially schools.

Sources:
Jane Quinn, "When Need Meets Opportunity: Youth Development Programs for Early Teens," The Future of Children vol.9 no.2: 96-116