Issue Brief 64: Integrating a Trauma-Informed Approach with Youth Development Programs
Youth development programs provide a unique but largely untapped opportunity to support youth who experience potentially traumatic events and adversity, such as racism/discrimination, poverty, and violence. Nationally and in Connecticut, 50% to 75% of youth are involved in at least one youth development program, including mentoring programs and team sports. More than 111,000 Connecticut youth participate in team sports, an experience that helps to build positive relationships and conflict resolution skills. Youth development programs promote positive and sustained youth-adult relationships and life and leadership skills. Despite the promise that community-based, culturally grounded, and safe and supervised youth development programs offer to youth affected by trauma, very few programs have integrated a trauma-informed approach.
This issue brief identifies youth development programs as a promising and non-stigmatizing venue to protect youth from the effects of trauma, and makes recommendations for youth development programs to incorporate a trauma-informed approach.
This Issue Brief was prepared by Robey B. Champine, PhD, MS, MPH, former Postdoctoral Fellow at CHDI and current Assistant Professor of Public Health at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and Jason M. Lang, PhD, Chief Program Officer at CHDI.