Resources and Links
The Youth Development Training and Resource Center (YDTRC) located at The Consultation Center has a generous collection of resource materials on topics including:
- Research on youth development theory and best practices
- Evaluation of youth development strategies and programs
- Assessment of youth outcomes
- Planning tools for youth development programs
- Youth participation and youth engagement strategies and models
- Curriculum materials for youth leadership development
- Best practices guidelines for youth development organizations
- Resource development for diverse youth development programs
- Publications and resource guides on seeking funding
- Self-assessment tools for youth leaders, program staff and youth agencies
- Skills and techniques for agency supervisors and managers
- Contact information on youth-related statewide and national networks
- Youth and community development
- Resources for after-school program planning and design
- Core competencies for youth workers
YDTRC Newsletter
- Fall 2006: New Opportunity for Hill Neighborhood Youth
- Summer 2007: TCC Board of Directors Hears Hill Youth Action Team Presentation
- Fall 2008: Perrin Foundation supports Youth Engagement and Advocacy; Youth Speak Out against Underage Drinking
Other YDTRC Publications
- Newsletters: New Haven B.E.S.T. Initiative on Youth Development (ongoing)
- Youth Participation Notebook: Six Strategies for Youth Engagement (2004)
- Guidelines and Workbook for Best Practices in Youth Development (1998)
Youth-Serving Community Networks
- City Wide Youth Coalition
- Hartford Youth Network
- Norwalk After-School Alliance
- Waterbury Youth Services
- New London Office of Youth Affairs
Statewide Networks
- Connecticut Youth Services Association
- Connecticut After-School Network
- Connecticut Voices for Children
- Connecticut Assets Network
- State of Connecticut Commission on Children
- RYASAP
- Connecticut Clearinghouse, a Program of Wheeler Clinic
- Governor's Prevention Partnership
Regional Networks
National Networks
- The National Training Institute for Community Youth Work (NTI), established by the Academy for Educational Development (AED)
- Forum for Youth Investment
- National Collaboration for Youth
Youth in Community Service
- Learning in Deed
- National Service-Learning Exchange
- Learn and Serve America
- Points of Light Foundation
- "Service Project Ideas for Youth" Resource Packet (Points of Light Foundation)
- SERVENet
- National Commission on Service-Learning
- Women in Community Service
- City Year
- Fresh Youth Initiatives
Youth as Funders
- Youth Noise
- "Raise It and Donate It Toolkit," Youth Noise
- Youth Venture
- National Crime Prevention Council
- The Foundation Center
Youth as Peer Educators/Peer Mentors
Youth as Entrepreneurs
Youth Activism (The following websites are posted courtesy of ServeNet's resources page:)
- Action Without Borders / Idealist Kids & Teens
- Youth Activism Project
- The Innovation Center for Community & Youth Development
- What Kids Can Do, Inc.
- Youth Action Net
- Global Youth Action Network
- SHiNE: Seeking Harmony in Neighborhoods Everyday
- Taking It Global
Underage Drinking Prevention
Youth Engagement & Youth Action Resources:
- Protecting You, Protecting Me: A promising initiative that educates youth in ways to help one another make responsible choices when pressured to use alcohol. The youth-led curriculum and program activities are supported by MADD and State Farm Insurance in selected school-based sites in Connecticut.
- MADD Connecticut. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is a renowned national organization that combines victim assistance, advocacy, and education. MADD-CT is an active statewide chapter that hosts events such as the annual one week youth leadership “Power Camp,” MADD Dash, and Youth in Action programs. Click here for upcoming event listings, or to learn more, contact Lauren Iannucci, Youth Program Coordinator, at (203) 234-6521
- Students Against Destructive Decisions – school-based chapters led by youth leaders with their adult advisors. SADD chapters have formed at both the middle and high-school level in Westbrook, Connecticut. For more on this, email Lynn Connery or call (860) 399-6214.
- Teens Breaking Barriers is a
Youth Leadership group with the
New Haven Commission on Substance Abuse Policy and
Prevention. YDTRC recently collaborated with
Teens Breaking Barriers and KidsTV at the 2008
YDTRC Annual Youth Forum.
For more information, view the 2007 Teens Breaking Barriers Newsletter, or the Holiday Safety Tips brochure, or contact Esther Armmand at (203) 946-8445. - Waterbury Youth Services hosts a Youth Empowerment Group that deals with issues like peer pressure and underage drinking. For more, contact Caryn Olcik: (203) 573-0264.
Media Projects
- Central Pride is a video collaboration between youth and adult advisors to promote a goal of youth empowerment. The video production is the result of a partnership between the Bridgeport Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking and the Leadership Group at Central High School in Bridgeport. For more information, contact Steve Karajanis: (203) 696-4959.
Connecticut Prevention Resources
- Connecticut Clearinghouse is a resource platform for youth-friendly, parent education, and agency staff resource materials. Along with links to a wealth of articles, organizations, and learning materials, CT Clearinghouse also connects site users to school flyers, videos, books, research databases, program contact lists, and reference sources.
- The State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) oversees a number of local and statewide initiatives to reduce underage drinking. DMHAS currently funds 28 organizations with an aim of reducing underage drinking across the state of Connecticut. For more information on this and other DMHAS projects, contact Mary Kate Mason: (860) 418-6839.
- Governor’s Prevention Partnership conducts trainings, engages in statewide media events and publications, provides technical assistance for DMHAS grants, and collaborates with community coalitions on statewide events and youth leadership initiatives. Contact Kate Antonucci or Catherine LeVasseur: (860) 523-8042
Legislation on Underage Drinking
- Connecticut Coalition to STOP Underage Drinking (CCSUD) is a joint youth and adult leadership group that focuses on statewide legislation. CCSUD members are committed to promoting community strategies for schools and communities to alter Connecticut laws and policies in ways that deter youth alcohol abuse.
- House Bill 5211/Public Act 06-112 places tighter restrictions on youth drinking in the presence of adults.
Other Research Sources:
