6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave H Study of Positive Youth Development Missouri Wave 6 Update

Background Study began in 2001 when National 4-H Council wanted to support a study of Positive Youth Development and the role of 4-H 4-H Council wanted scientific rigor and neutrality. Dr. Richard Lerner, Tufts University, and the Institute for Applied Research on Youth Development was selected to plan and lead the study. 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

Conceptual Model Guiding the 4-H Study Competence Confidence Character Caring Connection PYD Contribution Reduced Risk Behaviors Contextual Assets Individual Strengths 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

The Student Questionnaire More than 300 questions Demographic questions -About the children, their household, the time they have lived in their neighborhood, etc. Future Goals and Expectations Activity Participation -School clubs, sports, lessons, after-school programs Relationships with parents, friends, other adults Involvement in positive behaviors Involvement in risk behaviors Many questions that relate to 4-H mission mandate areas such as SET, Healthy Living, Citizenship. The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

Design of the 4-H Study This is a longitudinal study. Youth are surveyed in “Waves” across time. Cross-sectional data are also analyzed. In each “Wave”, we look at a “snapshot” of youth at a point in time. To adjust for youth who drop out of the study and to maintain ability to conduct powerful statistical analyses, new students added each year. Ideally, for the longitudinal analysis, a minimum of three times of measurement (surveys) are needed to assess developmental change. 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

Design of the 4-H Study The sample includes 4-H youth and non-4-H youth. To assess the differences between 4-H youth and other youth, matched sub-samples are created. Missouri 4-H joined the 4-H Study in 2007, Wave 5. 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

Research Timeline Pilot ( ) Wave 1: (5 th grade) Wave 2: (6 th grade) Wave 3: (7 th grade) Wave 4: (8 th grade) Wave 5: (9 th grade) –Missouri 4-H joins the study Wave 6: (10 th grade) Wave 7: (11 th grade) Wave 8: (12 th grade) 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

STATUS: The 4-H Study includes diverse youth…. Waves 1 - 5: –Surveyed 4,701 adolescents 69 % European American 13 % Hispanic/Latino American 7 % African American 2 % Native American 2 % Asian American 5 % Multi-racial 2 % Unknown 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

…and diverse communities: Type of community: –21 % Urban –36 % Suburban –43 % Rural Nationwide: –18% Western states –33% Southern states –18 % North Central states –21 % Northeastern states 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

What have we learned so far?  Positive Youth Development (PYD) can be defined and measured by the "Five Cs.”  PYD is correlated to Contribution. PYD constructs: Competence Confidence Character Caring Connection Contribution.62*** 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

Longitudinal data and developmental trajectories are helping us understand…  There is NOT a single pathway for PYD.  Patterns of PYD may change over time. 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

We’ve also learned… Youth Development programs work best when they include the “Big 3:” –Sustained, positive youth-adult relationships –Skill building experiences –Youth engagement and leadership 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6 12

Selected Wave 5 Longitudinal Findings Across grades, almost 2/3 of young people move from low to moderate levels of contribution. Only about 9% are in the highest contribution trajectory or level. 4-H’ers are significantly more likely to be in the highest contribution trajectory. The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

6/20/ % 24.5% 51.1% 15.9% 14 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

Selected Wave 5 Longitudinal Findings: Across grades, 90% of youth report no or very low levels of risk behaviors. 4-H’ers are significantly more likely to be in the lowest trajectory for risk behaviors. Only about 6% of youth appear to be in a trajectory of increasing risk behaviors. 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

6/20/ % 42.1 % 2.8 % 3.2 % 16 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

We’ve also learned a lot about 4-H! And the news is good! 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

Waves 1-5 Analysis 4-H and Non-4-H Youth Cross-sectional: matched samples of H youth who participated at least twice per month in 4-H programs to 215 other youth who regularly participated in other OST activities. Longitudinal: matched samples of H youth who participated at least twice per month in 4-H programs to 481 youth who regularly participated in other OST activities. 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6 18

Sample groups matched on: Gender Race/ethnicity Type of community Number of parents in the home Family per capita income Mother’s education Region of the country 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6 19

Wave 5* Cross-sectional Findings: 4-H participants had higher scores on: –Positive Youth Development (PYD) –Contribution 4-H participants had lower scores on: –Depression –Risky or problem behaviors * 9 th Grade Cohort – youth ages /20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

Wave 5 Cross-sectional Findings 6/20/2015 GRADE 9: DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOMES DepressionSOC*Risk Behaviors*Contribution* PYD* Statistically significant differences: *p<.05 SCORE OST4-H 214-H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

Selected Wave 5 Longitudinal Findings The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development When 4-H youth were compared with youth in similar OST programs, active 4-H’ers were: 2.5 times more likely to be in the highest level of contribution or service to others 1.1 times more likely to be in the highest PYD level 1.76 times more likely to report better grades 1.68 times more likely to report higher levels of academic competence 1.70 times more likely to report that they expected to go to college Wave 5 – Longitudinal Sample – All differences were statistically significant. Active 4-H was defined as participating at least two times per month for a year. 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

What about Missouri kids? Missouri youth came from 20+ sites in Missouri, representing urban, suburban and rural youth. 4-H Youth Specialists and Youth Program Associates surveyed 4-H and non-4-H youth in a variety of settings. 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

Missouri youth: Wave 5 (2007) 338 Youth 130 Males 196 Females Wave 6 (2008) 296 Youth 129 Males 165 Females 165 New youth 131 Re-Surveyed youth 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

We decided to look at a sub-set of MO youth for Wave 6 analysis: 4-H participation: –No 4-H - No 4-H club participation in last year –4-H – Participated at least once per month in the past year Grade: –8 th and 9 th Graders –10 th and 11 th Graders 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

Our Sample: 8 th and 9 th Grade 10 th and 11 th Grade Subtotal No 4-H in last year H at least once per month Subtotal /20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6 29

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MO W6 - GIRLS 6/20/20154-H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO W6 PRELIMINARY 38 4-H ParticipationTotals No 4-H in last year33 4-H at least once per month in last year 56 Total Girls89

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MO W6 - GIRLS 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6 40

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MO W6 – GIRLS – SET QUESTIONS 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6 42

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MO W6 – GIRLS – SET QUESTIONS 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6 45

Wave 6 – Land-grant University Partners University of Alaska University of California Colorado State University University of Delaware Purdue University University of Massachusetts University of Minnesota Mississippi State University University of Missouri Lincoln University University of Nebraska Oregon State University Rutgers University North Carolina State University North Dakota State University Texas A&M Washington State University University of Wyoming 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

This study is important so that we can…  Improve and enhance 4-H programming.  Share the information with other youth development programs so that they can strengthen, improve, and enhance programs.  Share the results parents, schools, and communities in order to promote PYD for all adolescents. 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

This study is important so that we can…  Communicate with funders, donors, alums, legislators, and other decision makers the value and importance of 4-H youth development programs. 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

The last word… “The true value of 4-H programs comes not from short-term results or even the effects over a few years. It comes from the programs’ influence on lifelong pathways of development.” Richard Lerner 6/20/ H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO Wave 6

6/20/20154-H Study of Positive Youth Development - MO W6 50 For a complete report of the Missouri’s Wave 6 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development findings, as well as the national findings, go to: 4h.missouri.edu/resources/evaluation