Noni K. Gaylord-Harden, Ph.D. - “Shifting the Narrative on Development in Youth of Color: The Case for a Positive Youth Development Perspective”

The Case for a Positive Youth Development Perspective

Shifting the Narrative on Development in Youth of Color:

Noni Gaylord-Harden, Loyola University Chicago5th Annual Youth-Nex Conference 2015

#YOCM

MATTER “worthy of attention”

Development of Youth of Color What are the normative developmental

experiences of YOC?

Ayman-Nolley & Taira (2000) White Youth “Family” YOC “Risk-taking Behavior”

Development of YOC framed in deficit-based models (García Coll et al., 1996; McLoyd & Randolph, 1985; Tucker & Herman, 2002). “pathologizing” and “idealizing”

Development of Youth of Color Leads to YOC being

overdiagnosed with “socially disruptive” psychiatric disorders (Mizock & Harkins, 2011; Schwartz & Feisthamel, 2009)

disproportionately suspended and expelled from schools (Fenning & Rose, 2007; Reynolds et al., 2008)

overrepresented in the juvenile justice system (Steinberg, 2009)

What are the Misconceptions about YOC? YOC are problematic and threatening

Perception of BOC as superpredators (Jennings, 2014).

Black boys perceived as older and less innocent by police officers (Goff et al., 2014)

Latino males perceived as threats to national security and American values (Chavez, 2013; Fujioka, 2011)

Purpose To identify profiles of

community violence exposure in African American youth

241 African American 6th – 8th graders mean age = 12.86

Profiles of Community Violence Exposure Among African American Youth (Gaylord-Harden et al., in press)

Profiles of Community Violence Exposure Among African American Youth (Gaylord-Harden et al., in press)

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Purpose: to identify profiles of

community victimization and aggressive behavior in African American male adolescents

223 African American male adolescents Mean age = 15.15

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Community-Level Victimization and Aggressive Behavior in African American Male Adolescents (Gaylord-Harden et al., 2015)

Community-Level Victimization and Aggressive Behavior in African American Male Adolescents (Gaylord-Harden et al., 2015)

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Community Violence, Protective Factors, and Adolescent Mental Health: A Profile Analysis (Copeland-Linder et al., 2010)

Purpose: examine interrelationships

among community violence, protective factors, and mental health

504 predominantly African American adolescents

77% of the sample moderate levels of risk high levels of protection

A Twelve‐Year Longitudinal Analysis of Positive Youth Development Among Rural African American Males (Murry et al., 2014)

Journal of Research on AdolescenceVolume 24, Issue 3, pages 512-525, 16 AUG 2014 DOI: 10.1111/jora.12129http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jora.12129/full#jora12129-fig-0003

Countering Misconceptions about YOC What are the normative

developmental experiences for YOC? Adaptive functioning is a common

experience for YOC Lack of focus on positive functioning

is allowing biases to prevail. Burgeoning body of research

Strengths-Based Model for YOC PYD = alignment between youth

strengths and environmental resources (families, school, communities) (Lerner et al., 2009)

Assets are embedded in the families and communities that socialize these youth

Culturally-Based Assets for YOC Role of cultural assets for YOC

Familism values predicts PYD in Mexican youth (Knight & Carlo, 2012).

Engaging American Indian youth in Native cultural practices and worldviews promotes PYD (Kenyon & Hanson, 2012).

Parents’ racial socialization efforts promotes PYD in African American youth (Evans et al., 2012).

Ethnic identity promotes PYD in African American and Latino youth (Williams et al., 2014)

Culturally-Based Assets for YOC What is the importance of identifying

culturally specific assets for YOC? Narrow the knowledge gap on variability

in the experiences of YOC Guide the development of contextually-

and culturally-relevant interventions

Moving Forward…

PYD research needed to provide a more balanced and holistic

perspective of YOC. Highlight number of YOC to help us

understand how to expand the numbers of these YOC who thrive.

Thank you!