Ideologies - Positive Youth Development

It has been proven that Positive Youth Development is a main ideology for Youth Development (Cite), but can we say the same for Child Life Therapy?  The orientation of positive youth development states, "a focus on fostering strengths and positive growth (also helps prevent negative outcomes)."  A Positive Youth Development approach focuses on the youth's positive traits and builds upon them to help the lives of both of the youth and their families.  

Although this video is centered towards Big Brothers, Big Sisters - it is a great resource for any youth workers learning about Positive Youth Development.  The speaker states that "positive youth development is saying we need to be sure that we build positive influences, positive assets, and a really strong foundational structure for our youth and their life."

Why is it important?

It was once said to me that you need to put the child and/or patient first.  Instead of saying they are a cancer patient, which puts the focus and emphasis on the cancer, a more positive way would be saying, the patient with cancer.  This simple flip within the sentence gives a positive statement that focuses on the child or patient whom is receiving care.  This example can be applied to many different scenarios within youth work.  Drug dependency, alcohol abuse, learning disabilities, sexual orientation, the possibilities for positivity are endless.

Nevertheless, this ideology doesn't stop with just reframing how people talk about their situation, but it also helps them reframe how they think about it as well.  The key to positive youth development is to reframe their situation into something positive!  It takes a special kind of person to give troubled youth a clear path through their struggles and even more amazing, a positive path for their future.

How does this relate to Child Life?

To reiterate what has been said above, Positive Youth Development insures the well-being and future of the child is the focus of the conversation rather than their illness.  Instead of a troubled youth, it is a youth that is ill or hospitalized with something outside of their control.  And yet, it is the job of child life specialist to work with children and families within the hospital to help them not only stay positive now, but create a positive plan for when they are exited from the hospital.  This can be as simple of distracting them from the pain with a positive activity to using play to help the child explain what they are feeling.