Feature Story Archives | Page 2 of 130

What the Starfish Story reveals about child welfare-especially in April_feature: a view looking down at starfish on sand with ocean water around it

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Opinion

What the Starfish Story reveals about child welfare — especially in April

There are moments in child welfare work where you know, without question, that what you did mattered.

Childcare: several young children stand in a line with arms around each others shoulders

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Opinion

Entering the life space of the child: Frank Fecser’s legacy in action

Re-EDucation is a systematic, relational, ecological approach to working with children with mental/behavioral challenges.

youth workforce, credit for prior learning: group of youth at youth camp building wooden structure through teamwork

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Opinion

From training to education: College credit for youth workers

When youth workers apply to college, their work experience doesn't count. One solution lies in Credit for Prior Learning (CPL).

Paying it forward_how mentoring orgs are helping students with college admissions_feature: mentor figure helps young female student by pointing to something on piece of paper

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News

Paying it forward: How mentoring organizations are helping students with college admissions

School-based mentorship programs help students navigate financial aid, college admissions and stay on track.

Five shifts that would change everything_feature: black teenage girl speaks with black female adult

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Opinion

Five shifts that would change everything

A podcast discusses five concrete changes that can be made in any youth development setting.

How a scholarship for homeless youth gave me the stability to build a future_feature: an old college building with tall tower on a nice day with clear, blue skies

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From the Field

How a scholarship for homeless youth gave me the stability to build a future

The scholarship didn’t just help me go to college. It helped me build a life.

Workforce readiness should start before college_feature: young female mentor helping high school student one-on-one

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From the Field

Workforce readiness should start before college

Workforce readiness must start in high school with paid opportunities, responsibilities, and cross-sector partnerships.

Strengthening school-afterschool partnership_Tips trends 2026 School Superintendents Conference_feature: man speaks and presents in front of room full of people with a screen to his left

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From the Field

Strengthening school/afterschool partnership: Tips and trends from the 2026 School Superintendents Conference

At the 2026 National Conference on Education hosted in Nashville by the School Superintendents Association, I heard a sentence that defined my...

learning environments What John King's teachers were actually doing_feature: group of students listens to black male teacher outdoors teaching them about plants

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Opinion

What John King’s teachers were actually doing

Helping youth thrive is about designing learning environments that prioritize consistency, challenge, and agency.

Structure, control and leaving room, youth environments _feature: image of clay pot spinning on record player

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Opinion

Structure, control and leaving room

Youth practitioners play a critical role in shaping youth environments by establishing norms, safety, and a larger vision — not by controlling...

positive youth development, sparks, environmental education grants: black boy using magnifying glass to study among plants while Asian girl takes notes

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From the Field

On sparks and social capital

Katherine Plog Martinez speaks with Erica Van Steenis on how sparks — deep interests, qualities, or talents — are central to positive...

Youth dance builds the skills young people need_I credit dance with my pursuit of medicine_feature: group of children dancing on stage, some with arm raised and finger pointing up

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From the Field

Dance builds the skills young people need. I credit dance with my pursuit of medicine.

If we want young people to relish the joy of learning and grow into capable, compassionate adults, youth dance deserves its place...

Childcare, early care, OST: Group young children holding hands while running towards camera across green grass with trees in background

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From the Field

Beyond fragmentation: Advancing continuity of care and cumulative opportunities in OST

OST can move from a patchwork of programs to a cohesive ecosystem boosting equity and learning; becoming a vital part of the...

civic skills, youth thriving, Six reasons to read Teen Centered Civics for Human Thriving_feature: group of teens put hands together over world map

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From the Field

Civic skills for 20 million young people: A Q&A with Rajiv Vinnakota

Karen Pittman speaks with Rajiv Vinnakota about cultivating civic skills that develop effective citizens.

court-involved youth, juvenile justice: Juvenile Juctice Center modern red brick and cement building with black sign

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From the Field

What 20 years with court-involved youth has taught me about breaking systemic cycles

Even with juvenile justice reform, the underlying conditions that result in court-involved youth remain firmly in place.

child abuse, child welfare, foster care:Unhappy Child Sitting On Floor In Corner At Home

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Opinion

Children suffer when child welfare ignores the evidence base

Child abuse deaths are needles in a haystack. But we’ve spent half a century making the haystack bigger.

Child safety was never meant to look like this_feature: A sad little girl hugging her parent to feel safe, tearful.

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Opinion

Child safety was never meant to look like this

The U.S. invokes child protection to justify family separation, prolonged detention and forced placements, but this distorts the origins of child safety.

AI in schools: person on laptop while also using AI chatbot on smartphone

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From the Field

Flourishing in the Age of AI: Q&A with Courtney Garcia of LearnerStudio

Merita Irby speaks with LearnerStudio's Courtney Garcia about a new anthology exploring what it means for young people to flourish in the...

To fix student chronic absenteeism schools ust support families first_feature: Young teacher having meeting with parent of schoolboy, they sitting at table and talking together after lessons

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From the Field

To fix student absenteeism, schools must support families first

With chronic absenteeism still 50% above pre-pandemic levels, schools are using ineffective punitive or reward-based strategies instead of family supports.

On developmental relationships _feature: black coach or mentor and white male student sit on bleachers and talk

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From the Field

On developmental relationships

Katherine Plog Martinez speaks with Gene Roehlkepartain on how strong developmental relationships are the "active ingredient" in successful youth programs.