Youth Development

Alyssa Schortinghouse

Victor W. Harris, Gilon Marts, and Martie Gillen

Sharon K. Junge, Vanessa Spero, Nicole Crawson, J.R. Davis, Tara Dorn, Beth Rasa Edwards, Stacy Hall, Karen Henry, Heather M. Futch, Beth Kerr, Andrea Lazzari, Abby Morgan, Kristie Popa, Cindy Smalley, Melinda Souers, Katelin Stenroos, Laura Valencia, Travis West, Tracy Winters, andMary-Louise Wood

This resource guide is designed to be used by Extension/4-H professionals to deliver teen-led curricula in after-school programs. It includes an overview of program delivery, recruitment processes and training outlines.

Colleen E. Gariton, Matt Benge, Sadie Hundemer, Meredith S. Berry, andT. Grady Roberts

Research shows that youth who interact with natural environments are physically, mentally, behaviorally, and socially healthier (Zhang et al., 2018). Environmental educators, youth professionals, and organizations can implement simple strategies and practices to foster youth interaction with the environment in youth education and programming. This publication is based on research conducted in 2024 focused on environmental education at a 4-H camp in Florida (Gariton, 2024). Written by Colleen E. Gariton, Matt Benge, Sadie Hundemer, Meredith S. Berry, and T. Grady Roberts, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, January 2026.

Vanessa Spero

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Youth development

Vanessa Spero and Susan Munyan

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Academic and 4-H/Youth audience(s). in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Developing organizational and volunteer systems to support youth development.

Vanessa Spero-Swingle

All youth, regardless of age, are at risk for engaging in negative behaviors that can get them into trouble during the afterschool hours when parents and other family members are at work. Middle and high school-age youth are at an age where they can most benefit from increasing opportunities to participate in programs with a positive adult role model, gain necessary life skills, and increase their knowledge of accessible opportunities. Middle and high school programs have the potential to support graduation rates and increase post-secondary school success. This publication of the UF/IFAS Florida 4-H Youth Development Program provides strategies for success in developing these programs in your community.

Vanessa Spero
Other Contacts: Sarah Hensley

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Developing organizational and volunteer systems to support youth development

Angela Nielsen andLarry F. Forthun

This publication provides information about adolescent mental health and suicidality, ways that adolescents can provide empathetic support to a friend they met online, ways that adults can help, and the importance of self-care. Written by Angela Nielsen and Larry F. Forthun, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, August 2022.

Victor W. Harris, Gilon Marts, andMuthusami Kumaran

Getting married and staying married require a complicated calculus of factors that must come together to produce healthy and satisfying relationships. While couple interactional processes tend to be the most predictive of whether or not they will stay together and find happiness, background and contextual factors and individual traits also factor heavily into the equation. Finding two socks that match (and don’t wear out) is much more likely to occur when the relationship is based upon a deep and enduring friendship. Asking the question, “Will this choice enhance or diminish my marital friendship?” and then choosing to make the choices that will enhance the marital friendship more often than not are healthy strategies for success.

Larry F. Forthun, Tyler Nesbit, andAngelica Shaw

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet.

Alyssa Schortinghouse

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Fact Sheet. Published by Youth development

Debra Barry, Alyssa Shepherd, Jennifer Patton, and Stephen Gran

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: ==Special Handling==

Larry F. Forthun, Tyler Nesbit, andAngelica Shaw

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet.

Angela Nielsen and Larry F. Forthun

The purpose of this publication is to inform the reader about online friendships between teens, mental health and suicidality in teens, ideas for supporting a teen whose online friend discloses thoughts of self-harm and suicide, and the importance of safety and self-care. Written by Angela Nielsen and Larry F. Forthun, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, January 2024.

Alyssa Schortinghouse

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. Published by Youth development

Vanessa Spero
Other Contacts: Sarah Hensley

Family engagement in 4-H programs allows family members, youth, and the community to become more aware, cohesive, and invested in youth development. This fact sheet discusses how to incorporate family engagement into your 4-H school programming. For the purposes of Florida 4-H, a school-based program can be defined as school enrichment (offered to groups of youth, taught by Extension staff or trained volunteers, and designed to support the school curriculum), an in-school club following a more traditional club approach during school hours, or an after-school club operating directly after school hours.

Vanessa Spero, Elaine Giles Simfukwe, andTara Dorn

There is a growing need for youth to learn how to use artificial intelligence (AI) in a way that will positively impact their careers and their everyday lives. To effectively use AI, familiarizing oneself with AI is crucial. This is known as AI literacy. This publication provides background for educators to increase their understanding of AI in youth educational settings and offers practical tools to better prepare themselves and their youth for responsible AI use.  

Courtney Pritchard and Victor W. Harris

This publication contains some useful information regarding the variety of risk factors that children exposed to parental Alcohol Use Disorder may face and protective factors that can help to promote positive outcomes and resilience. Written by Courtney Pritchard and Victor W. Harris, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, February 2025.

Francesca Michelini, Kate Fogarty, Randall A. Cantrell, andMarilyn E. Swisher

This article discusses multiple problems that youth encounter after they exit foster care, and the ways that almost anyone can work to help these young people. Written by Francesca Michelini, Kate Fogarty, Randall Cantrell, and Marilyn Swisher, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, November 2022.