Main description:

Perhaps no other challenge is more pressing in creating “developmentally - tentive community and society” (the theme of this book series) than mobilizing adultstoplayactive,constructiverolesinthelivesofchildrenandadolescents.In a society that too easily defaults to designing programs as cure-alls for meeting young people’s needs, particular attention must be paid to understanding and mobilizing the kind of positive, relational energy that prepares each successive generation to assume its place in society. Although programs and institutions certainlyplayimportantroles,thekeyliesinthepersonalcommitment,invol- ment, and investment of adults in young people’s lives. In Mobilizing Adults for Positive Youth Development: Strategies for Closing the Gap between Beliefs and Behaviors, E. Gil Clary and Jean E. Rhodes have ass- bled the insights of leading scholars from multiple disciplines and contexts for engaging a broad cadre of adults as allies for youth development. As the editors write,thequestionguidingthebookis,“Howcanwemosteffectivelyencourage adults, both individually and collectively, to begin to behave differently with - spect to the young people of a community, to do so consistently, and to do so in a variety of ways?” What is being proposed, then, is nothing less than a social movement that engages individuals, small groups, neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, faith communities, and broader social institutions in attending to the well-being and healthy development of young people.

Feature:

Makes available the advice and expertise of leading scholars dedicated to affecting positive youth development

Provides a multifaceted, multidisciplinary blueprint for social change

Offers a comprehensive overview of the current state of youth development work

Promotes individual adult involvement in adolescents’ lives to ensure positive youth development

Provides a blueprint for mobilizing a society of adults, through volunteer and other programs, to improve the lives of youth

Back cover:

When highly successful people from all walks of life are asked how they were able to attain such lofty achievements, they inevitably pay tribute to the influential role played by a variety of adults throughout their young lives. Whether it’s a valedictorian delivering the commencement speech, a team captain receiving an MVP award, or an actor accepting an award, the underlying message each sends is clear: Throughout childhood and adolescence, they had consistent, meaningful interaction with adults.

In today’s fast-paced, often-dehumanizing world, increasing positive adult involvement and influence is particularly vital. To further that goal, Mobilizing Adults for Positive Youth Development: Strategies for Closing the Gap between Beliefs and Behaviors brings together, in one concise volume, the advice and expertise of leading scholars dedicated to affecting positive youth development. Taken together, the chapters in this book provide a multifaceted, multidisciplinary blueprint for social change. The volume includes much-needed information on:

• Understanding the current state of youth development work; the world in which adolescents live; and the world in which adults function, as well as the context in which adults can establish adult-youth relationships and use community resources to ensure a successful youth development outcome.








• Promoting individual adult involvement in adolescents’ lives to ensure positive youth development.








• Mobilizing individual adults through a variety of outlets, including neighborhood and community coalitions, religious institutions, and university outreach programs.








• Mobilizing a society of adults, through volunteer and other programs.

Mobilizing Adults for Positive Youth Development: Strategies for Closing the Gap between Beliefs and Behaviors is a must-have volume for both practitioners and researchers – in fact, for anyone interested and involved in working toward achieving positive youth development.

Contents:

Introduction and Conceptual Foundations.- Young People are Resources to be Developed.- The World of Adults Today: Implications for Positive Youth Development.- Lessons from Research on Mobilizing Adults to Volunteer for Positive Youth Development.- Generativity and Adult Development: Implications for Mobilizing Volunteers in Support of Youth.- Strategies to Motivate Behavior Change: How Can we Mobilize Adults to Promote Positive Youth Development?.- Best Practices of Prosocial Organizations in Youth Development.- Mobilizing Communities for Positive Youth Development: Lessons Learned from Neighborhood Groups and Community Coalitions.- Mobilizing Adults for Positive Youth Development: Lessons from Religious Congregations.- Bridging Research and Community Practice in the Field of Youth Development.- Public Policy: Encouraging Adult Voluntarism with Young People.- Lessons from Research on Social Marketing for Mobilizing Adults for Positive Youth Development.- Think Globally, Act Locally: A Global Perspective on Mobilizing Adults for Positive Youth Development.- Promoting Positive Youth Development: Challenges Posed and Opportunities Provided.- Contributors.- Index.