Youth Development

In the past decade, there has been a renewed interest in character education and positive youth development. “Character Education” is an intentional effort to include shared, ethical values as a central goal of youth development. “Positive Youth Development” refers to a mindset where the focus shifts from the negative to the positive attributes of our youth and from youth problems to the positive contribution youth can make in our community.

There are many ways, or frameworks, to build good character and promote positive youth development. One of those frameworks is CHARACTER COUNTS! The Institute for Character Development was created as a legacy of the Iowa Sesquicentennial Celebration. The Institute for Character Development (ICD) provides training in and promotes the six pillars of CHARACTER COUNTS! and include the ethical values of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. ICD is the state counterpart of the Josephson Institute of Ethics, the national promoter and author of the trademark CHARACTER COUNTS!

Another framework that promotes good character and positive youth development is the 40 developmental assets developed by the Search Institute, with its national headquarters in Minneapolis Minnesota. Developmental Assets are building blocks to success that all youth need and everyone can help build.

The Iowa Asset Building Coalition (currently their website is being updated, so please email Andrew Gross for more information) is a statewide organization with the goal to link, support and resource community initiatives that promote positive youth development. Many of these initiatives use the 40 developmental assets; many use a combination of frameworks, including CHARACTER COUNTS! and the five goals of America’s Promise.