The benefits for youth participating in Monthly Meetings, the Leadership Network, Theatre
Events and the variety of other Youth Forum activities are innumerable. According to the
UConn Center for Applied Research Executive Summary for the Connecticut YOUTH Forum
August 25, 2004:
During the 2003-2004 school year the UConn Center for Applied Research designed and
administered pre and post participation questionnaires and conducted focus groups to
evaluate the impact of participation in the Connecticut YOUTH Forum program. The following
are preliminary results from the first year of quantitative and qualitative sampling.
- 1. The Connecticut YOUTH Forum is unique in the way in which it facilitates youth
attendance, in the structure of the program and the presence of caring adults. The
culture of the program is formatted on one rule only, “culture of validation” or the need to
respect and listen to the perspectives of others in the Connecticut YOUTH Forum. Youth
are most often recruited by other youth.
2. There is evidence of program influence on global youth development in the areas
of tolerance, communication, and social self-efficacy.
3. Preliminary data indicate the Connecticut YOUTH Forum influences the following
areas of youth development:
- self-perceptions, especially in the area of values
- tolerance and acceptance of diversity of others
- belief in themselves
- communication
- responsibility for themselves, others and somewhat toward the community
- 4. These indicators appear to be influenced by the process of the Connecticut YOUTH
Forum, not the content of the meetings. In other words, the culture of the program,
communication rules (most particularly “culture of validation”), and experiential
interactions with peers and other youth appear to have the greatest influence. Thus, it
appears that the operating rules for communicating in the Connecticut YOUTH Forum
become the tools that youth bring back and apply to their lives as a skill.
5. The Connecticut YOUTH Forum is consistent with the expectations of a “positive
youth development” program.
6. Youth are highly satisfied with the program and the staff of the Connecticut YOUTH
Forum.
"Thank you for helping my son to see the world through eyes other than his own. His immediate
surroundings are very homogenous, and now he is developing experiences with people from all over. It
has affected the way he thinks and acts in his everyday life!"
-Mother of Bolton High School Sophomore
"I am really glad that my daughter has had the opportunity to meet all of these people and has been
involved in The YOUTH Forum. The experiences she has had are amazing! She comes home buzzing
after one of your meetings!"
- Father of Hall High School Junior
"Thank you for letting my daughter participate in The Connecticut Forum, in particular The Bushnell
events. She doesn't get to do stuff of the same caliber anywhere else, and she has learned a lot about
issues she wouldn't normally think about."
- Father of Sport Sciences Academy Junior
Youth Forum
thanks the
following for their
support:
Attend a YOUTH Forum meeting as an observer--You may be amazed by the thoughtful and earnest things these
youth have to say!
Come along on a field trip or community service activity--You have things to teach all kids just by being an adult
role model.
Volunteer at The Forum office--The Connecticut Forum would not operate with out volunteers.
Facilitate a workshop at The Student Exchange Event--You will get to know youth in an entirely new way.
Help students with transportation to YOUTH Forum meetings and events--The Connecticut Youth Forum is
nothing without the youth getting together.
Help promote The Connecticut YOUTH Forum in your town--The strength of the Youth Forum is in its
membership. You can play a vital role in promoting this worthwhile endeavor.
Consider having your business become a YOUTH Forum sponsor--Sponsorship with money or goods and
services is good for youth and good for business!
Charitable
Foundation
with their parents and the other significant adults in their life.
The parents and teachers involved with the Connecticut Youth Forum are extraordinarily important to
the success of what we do.
Foundation
Robinson
Foundation
