see link below!
– A new study confirms that youth involved in 4-H are leaders, contribute to their communities and are civically engaged, which strengthens communities. The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development (PYD) is finding that youth involved in high-quality, structured programs during out-of-school time, such as those offered by Merced County 4-H, are more likely to experience PYD.
Findings of The 4-H Study of PYD — a first-of-its-kind, longitudinal study measuring the impact personal and social factors have on youth as they develop — reveal that all youth have the capacity to thrive, regardless of where they live, their family situations, their socioeconomic status, their race or gender. Study findings also show that the quality and quantity of structured, out-of-school-time programs that youth are involved with matters. The more often youth are involved in high-quality youth development programs, the more they and their communities benefit.
The California 4-H Youth Development Program is entering into a partnership with Tufts University to collect data from California youth for the study. Sharon Junge in the State 4-H Office and Ramona Carlos and Katherine Heck at the 4-H Center for Youth Development will serve as co-directors for California. Richard Mahacek, County Director and 4-h YD advisor, will coordinate with partners and collect data in Merced County. California 4-H will participate in 2008 by collecting data from more than 600 California youth. As data is collected and analyzed, the research team will prepare reports and recommendations for educators, youth program leaders, policy-makers, and parents.
Use the interest link to find out how to participate Merced County Tufts survey on Youth Development
Monday May 19th between 5 and 7 pm at our 4-H Office and
Monday June (9 or16) at the Merced County Office of Education - M and 13th street in Merced between 4 and 5pm.
If you are interested in being part of this study as a youth or parent please contact the Merced County 4-H Office at 385-7418 or email rlmahacek@ucdavis.edu or use our online interest form at Merced County Tufts survey on Youth Development