Promoting positive youth development for Asian American youth in a Teen Resource Center: Key components, outcomes, and lessons learned

This study explored Asian American youth experiences in peer-led youth development programming delivered at a federally qualified community health center. We used a qualitative approach to examine narrative data from in-depth interviews with 18 study participants. Our analysis involved data immersion, coding, thematic sorting of coded excerpts, and comparisons of themes across interviews. Several features identified by participants as being important to positive experiences were consistent with key features of positive youth development programs described in existing literature. These included: 1) an abundance of opportunities for skill development and active participation, 2) an atmosphere promulgating positive social norms, 3) a safe space for youth to explore deeply personal issues, 4) an inclusive environment, and 5) a supportive organizational culture and program staff. Participants perceived positive development across individual, peer, family, school, and community contexts of their lives, and reported various aspects of growth in identity development, interpersonal relationships, practical life skills, healthy behaviors, career choice, and civic engagement. This study contributes to the knowledge about aspects of youth development programs that are successful in engaging and supporting Asian American youth. •Peer-led youth development programming may be an effective way to engage Asian American youth.•Key components include safe space, prosocial norms, belongingness, supportive culture, and opportunity for skill building.•Participants reported growth in identity, relationships, life skills, health behavior, career choice, and civic engagement.•Community health centers can be tapped as a resource for positive youth development programs.