By IANS,
Washington : Millions of dollars are spent annually on research to reduce risky and problem behaviours in youth. But far less has been funnelled into research promoting positive development among them.
To do that, a new study draws on a perspective called developmental intervention science (DIS) – a fusion of the literatures of both developmental and intervention sciences.
This approach suggests new directions for developing affordable youth interventions that also meet the needs of both the community and its youth.
The key concepts of the DIS approach include community-supported interventions that meet youth and community needs; developing affordable and sustainable interventions in “real world” settings; and targeting risky and problem behaviours while promoting positive self-development.
“Miami Youth Development Project (YDP) represents watershed work in developmental science,” observe researchers Richard Lerner and Willis Overton in their commentary on the issue.
The May 2008 special issue of the Journal of Adolescent Research reports the results of nearly two decades of research at the Miami YDP, a community-supported positive youth development programme of outreach research.