New Roles for Early Adolescents in Schools and Communities

This booklet is intended to stimulate new interest in the need of young adolescents to take on meaningful roles and to help planners and practitioneers to translate that interest into youth participation programs. There are three major sections. Section I examines the special needs and characteristics of youth in the 10 to 14 age group. Discussed is how youth participation programs can offer almost endless possibilities for meeting the specific needs of early adolescence. The role of the adult leader in facilitating programs is also examined. To provide ideas and examples for those wanting to start their own youth participation programs, section II presents five case studies: a Community Service and Career Exploration Program in Shoreham, New York; a Peer Tutoring Program in Indianapolis, Indiana; a GUTS (Government Understanding for Today's Students) program in Bronx, New York; a Cooperative Science Education Program in New York City; and a Junior Historian Club in Ahoskie, North Carolina. Implementation is the focus of section III. Discussed are program components, practical guidelines for starting a program, the role of the adult facilitator, and tips for working with community resource people. Recommendations from a practitioner are also presented. Appendices contain brief sketches of additional programs, the addresses and contact people for the programs described in section II, a bibliography of resources, and a listing of the publications of the National Commission on Resources for Youth. (RM)