Interventions that build compassion for others may help increase social connectivity, combat loneliness, and promote positive adjustment in youth. However, limited research has examined the effects of this type of intervention on youth well-being. The goal of this small open pilot study was to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes…

Youth participation in community-based, structured out-of-school time programs (OST) has been found to promote positive developmental outcomes by providing youth with resources to build interpersonal relationships and essential life skills. The increasing prevalence and multiplicity of youth participation in these activities leads us to expand the…

Excessive plate waste is generated in elementary school cafeterias. Adapting nutrition promotion strategies to target waste reduction and encouraging mindful and sustainable eating (MSE) are possible strategies to encourage students to reduce waste during school lunch. "Farm to Tray, Tray to Farm" is a 16-week intervention that aims to…

Upper elementary students in a Title I rural school participated in an expressive arts-based resiliency small-group intervention entitled Resilient Warriors (RWs). This mixed-methods study revealed positive changes in participating students based on teacher ratings on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. We also found four qualitative…

This study explores the implementation of the engage2Learn program among English as a Second Language (ESL) educators in the Providence Public School District and its impact on student outcomes over three years (2021-2023). Utilizing Grade 1-5 WIDA ACCESS scores, this study examines cohort differences in change in student proficiency levels before…

Background: Given its ability to exacerbate health inequities through its disproportionate impact on low-income communities, the need exists to better understand factors that influence substance use among adolescents. Moreover, given its multi-etiological nature, preventing adolescent substance use requires addressing intrapersonal, interpersonal,…

This research applied current thinking in the fields of positive education, positive youth development, and global education to a culturally-relevant, social-emotional learning curriculum. The Kenya Education Empowerment Project (KEEP) curriculum facilitated social-emotional learning through dialogically-based classroom lessons and opportunities…

This study evaluated effects of "Positive Action," a school-based social-emotional and character development intervention, on indicators of positive youth development (PYD) among a sample of low-income, ethnic minority youth attending 14 urban schools. The study used a matched-pair, cluster-randomized controlled design at the school…

At-risk youth face many difficulties including higher dropout rates, lack of positive adult support, poor neighborhood conditions, exposure to violence, and a lack of parental support and family stability. Mentoring programs for at-risk youth may help mitigate these difficulties, but the quality of the mentor-mentee relationship is predictive of…

The development and implementation of a comprehensive and systemic career development program, The Career Institute, provided the mechanism through which one school community addressed students' career development and college readiness needs while also attending to their academic and personal-social development. The Career Institute consisted of a…

Bullying behavior has problematic psychosocial ramifications for the bully, victim, and those who are both a bully and a victim. The Bully Prevention Challenge Course Curriculum utilizes a challenge ropes course to address bully behaviors in seventh-grade middle school classes. The program incorporates the use of challenge activities framed with…

The SpringBoard Bursary Foundation (SpringBoard) commissioned the National Foundation for Education Research (NFER) to undertake an evaluation of its activities and impacts between 2013 and 2018. This interim and summary report presents the findings of the first year of the evaluation. SpringBoard was established in 2012 to transform the lives of…

The struggles and often compelling social dramas of middle school may be either long-forgotten or intentionally blocked by adulthood, but many middle schoolers could benefit from guidance during this difficult period of their lives. This article presents the rationale, along with the basic contours, of a six-session program that has been developed…

We are delighted to welcome you to the International Psychological Applications Conference and Trends (InPACT) 2017, taking place in Budapest, Hungary, from 29 of April to 1 of May, 2017. Modern psychology offers a large range of scientific fields where it can be applied. The goal of understanding individuals and groups (mental functions and…

The Forum for Youth Investment has partnered with Corporate Voices for Working Families to support a Youth Transitions Task Force charged with identifying and promoting the corporate and public policies necessary to ensure that young people ages 14-21 have the opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in work and in…