by: Joan Costello
"During the second decade of their lives, adolescents may spend as much time in organized settings as they do at home or in other informal settings with friends or family members". This articles focuses on promoting youth development through public schools, primary supports, and problem- focused specialized services.
What are primary supports? " A second human service sector includes organizations that provide primary source of support by extending what schools and families offer". Such as cultural, athletic, social and recreational opportunities that are voluntary in near or neighboring communities. Some of the oldest organizations are the YMCA, YWCA, Boy Scouts, and 4-H club. These organizations offer flexibility that empower youth, but also lack in fully involving youth. Costello suggests, that staff lack education and training to have structure to create these opportunities because they share a commitment to meeting the normal developmental needs of young people rather than focusing on their problems. What these organization do provide is voluntary participation and autonomy. "primary supports offer differing degrees of autonomy for youth to make decisions about their own activities and to influence decisions that help determine the course of the organization itself". Primary Support organizations also provide youth to create relationships with adults and other peers. All in all these sectors provide opportunities to build youth development goals and practices into everyday activities.
Reading this Article I was most interested in the part about the YMCA because I currently work at the Kent County Branch. Here's a link to their News & Events!
http://www.ymcagreaterprovidence.org/Branches/KentCounty/NewsEvents/tabid/249/Default.aspx
If you check out their website you can see all the programs, activities, etc. they have available for youth of all ages. I have worked there for like three years and have done summer camp, after school programs, and worked in the active family center. I spent my childhood at the YMCA everyday because I was on their swim team. I have witnessed so many families and a community utilize this organization to its potential. They have everything under the sun at the YMCA and if they don't you could probably start it up. Wanting to work with youth and seeing the children that come through there on a daily basis I really think that it is essential to healthy development. It gives youth opportunities to participate in sports, and events (carnivals, magic shows, etc.) while giving them a chance to socialize in a healthy community. They are able to meet people of all ages and develop relationships that they wouldn't necessarily get from home or school. I think that this truly is an organization that betters youth development.
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