Research

Data Collection
Data collection on youth development is accomplished through the California Healthy Kids Survey at the district level and the California Student Survey at the state level

Getting Results
This collection of documents is designed to help California school districts use research-based strategies in designing and implementing their alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention programs, as well as their youth violence prevention programs. Updates 1 and 5 pertain to youth development issues.

• Update 1: Positive Youth Development: Research, Commentary and Action highlights the importance of a youth development approach in developing safe and healthy students.  
• Update 5: Student Health, Supportive Schools, and Academic Success consists of comprehensive discussions of the research on health variables, risk behaviors, supportive school environments, and academic success.

The Search Institute
The Search Institute is a nonprofit research organization that has conducted research pertaining to the positive things young people need to succeed. They identified 40 developmental assets important for positive youth development. The Web site has a wealth of information pertaining to assets building research, resource materials, conferences, staff development opportunities, and other related information. New research articles are posted on their Web site under Insights and Evidence.

Youth Development Network
Youth Development Network is a nonprofit agency that promotes youth voice and strength-based learning and leadership among youth. Their work addresses the developmental needs of the youth and strives to focus on what is right to fix what is wrong. The Web site explains their youth development framework and provides a list of resources including icebreakers and energizers that would increase youth engagement.