Quality Youth Programs
The best youth organizations, clubs and programs share eight important features that promote positive youth development. * Programs with these characteristics can help young people develop valuable assets such as good health habits. Effective programs for young people:
- Promote a sense of safety
- Provide appropriate structure
- Create supportive relationships
- Provide opportunities to belong
- Provide positive social norms, such as rules for behavior
- Give youth responsibilities and meaningful challenges
- Provide opportunities for skill building
- Coordinate family, school and community programming
Evidence-Based After-School Programs
These programs have been scientifically shown to positively affect a child's behavior with regard to healthy eating and physical activity. Although these programs were originally designed for elementary-age kids, they incorporate the elements of effective youth organizations above and can be adapted for use with teens and pre-teens. Take a look at these after-school programs and see which one best fits your community's or school's needs, resources and reach. For more information about the evidence of the effectiveness of these programs, and many other child-oriented health programs, visit the Kansas State University Community Health Institute web site. Many other evidence-based programs are also profiled here.
- CATCH Kids Club
- This program is designed for after-school youth groups and community recreation programs and has a large base of scientific evidence to support its effectiveness in teaching healthy activity to adolescents and younger kids.
- SPARK After School Program
- This program boasts years of research and field tests that show its effectiveness as an out-of-school recreation programs that promotes fun, safe and lifelong physical activity skills in 5- to 14-year-olds.
To check out a Kansas specific program in the works take a look at the Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics POSH Grant.
Youth Group Activities
Check out these fun, educational activities designed by Healthy Kids Challenge based on the CDC's recommendations for healthy eating and physical activity. These activities can help adult youth leaders teach and promote healthy eating and physical activity to young people with a fun, hands-on approach.
- Eat Breakfast Activity
- Target age: Pre-teens/teens
Outcome: Youth will set goals to eat breakfast more often and choose healthier foods - SUPER-SIZED Snacks
- Target age: Pre-teens/teens
Outcome: Youth will be able to identify smart serving sizes and set a goal to resist super-sizing their food choices - Rainbow on My Plate
- Target age: Elementary through high school
Outcome: Youth will set goal to eat more fruits and vegetables each week - Move More Ideas
- Target age: Elementary through high school
Outcome: Youth will increase minutes in motion during the day with active play - Bowling Thirst Quencher
- Target age: Upper elementary through high school
Outcome: Problem solve and set goal for health beverage choices while enjoying an active motion game
* Adapted from the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine (2002). Community Programs to Promote Youth Development. Committee on Community-Level Programs for Youth. Jacquelynne Eccles and Jennifer A. Gootman, Eds. Board on Children, Youth, and Families. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.