Registration is now open!
Self Regulation & Positive Youth Development: Using "GPS" Skills to Map a Thriving Course for Youth |
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MSU Extension 4-H Youth Development is pleased to offer a professional development and scholarship opportunity in partnership with researchers from the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University. This opportunity is open to educators, youth mentoring and other youth develoment staff. Edmond Bowers, Ph.D. and Doctoral Student Chris Napolitano will present findings from the national, longitudinal 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development (PYD) highlighting the role of intentional self regulation to youth thriving. This findings from this study have led to the development of tools for practioners to use to enhance PYD. These tools will be shared during the afternoon portion of the session in a train-the-trainer format designed to help staff prepare to share these resources with volunteers.
There are two sessions offered.
January 18, 2011
10am- 4:30pm
Oakland Schools ISD
Pontiac, MI
January 19, 2011
10am-4:30pm
Kettunen Center
Tustin, MI
There is a $20 session fee to cover materials and lunch.
Lodging and meals for the evening of the 19th at Kettunen Center are available for a fee for Institute of Children and Youth staff interested in staying overnight to participate in the Institute retreat begining on January 20th. See the registration page for options.
Below you will find answers to some of your questions. We hope you will get involved in this exciting endeavor! |
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Background |
Michigan 4-H Youth Development is partnering with the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University to evaluate new Positive Youth Development (PYD) tools that have been created as a result of the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development. Richard M. Lerner (Tufts University), Jacqueline V. Lerner (Boston College), and Edmond P. Bowers (Tufts University) provide leadership for this project.
The Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University are seeking youth development programs to take part in an evaluation of Project GPS. Project GPS introduces mentors and adult guides to tools that can be used to assist their mentee in goal selection (G), pursuit of goals (P), and shifting gears when the going gets tough (S). If we can enhance the ability of the mentors and other adult guides involved in youth programs to promote and develop GPS skills among the young people with whom they are working, then youth will thrive. Project GPS Evaluation informational webinars were offered in September. These sessions provided a comprehensive overview of the evaluation project. .Click here to download a copy of the presentation. Participation in this workshop is open to anyone who is interested regardless of participation in the Project GPS Evaluation. |
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Purpose of the workshop |
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This is a two-part workshop designed to share new research with the field and provide training materials to those who intend to engage mentors and other adults in the Project GPS Evaluation.
The first portion of the session will explain past and current findings from the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development's national, longitudinal 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development (PYD) highlighting the role of intentional self regulation to youth thriving.
The afternoon portion of the session is designed for those who would like to participate in the Project GPS Evaluation as well as those who need more information to make a decision. Through a train-the-trainer format, participants will receive the resources needed to train mentors and other adult guides to use GPS with young people. Staff will learn more about the evaluation process and how to enroll as an evaluation site.
We welcome participants to attend all or part of the workshop. Please note that the registration fee is the same for a partial day and a full day. |
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Who can participate? |
 Participation in this professional development workshop is open regardless of participation in the Project GPS Evaluation.
Participation in the Project GPS Evaluation is open to youth development programs that meet the following criteria:
- Mentors and other adult guides involved in the evaluation must be at least 18 years of age.
- Youth participants must be at least 10 years old.
- Any program that creates a long-term relationships between one adult and one or a small group (4 or fewer) of youth where the adults and youth must have regular interaction is eligible.
We understand that some participants will not choose to participate. Programs are not required to engage a minimum number of matches or participants to be included. |
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What are the benefits? |
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 Participation in the Project GPS Evaluation will benefit your organization, staff, volunteers, and most importantly, the youth you serve in a number of ways.
Participation will provide:
- Measurable evidence for your organization's impact on youth.
- The means to identify program areas of strength and areas that might need more attention.
- The ability to contribute to the development of materials that will be used in youth-serving organizations across the country.
- Empirically-based information on youth development to your staff in a user-friendly and accessible manner.
- Activities and videos that are engaging and practical ways to complement and extend mentors' efforts.
- A great opportunity to sit down with the youth and ask about their goals and achievements for the past year and next year.
- The means to identify youth's areas of strength and areas in the young person's life that might need more attention.
- Youth with a well-thought out plan to reach their goals, the motivation to pursue those goals, and the life skills critical to successfully achieving those goals.
- Mentors/guides and youth will each receive a gift card upon completion of the final survey in the evaluaiton process.
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