Children, Youth and Families
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Children, Youth and Families
Children, youth, and families are members of many communities which may include neighborhoods, schools, and religious and civic groups. Community Psychologists study the interests of child and adolescents within these communities. Particular attention is paid to development in high risk contexts and especially the impact of urban poverty and community structures on child and family development.

Posted in: Children, Youth and Families, Criminal Justice, Marginalized Groups, Poverty and Socioeconomic StatusPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyMany African American adolescents living in low-resourced urban neighborhoods experience high exposure to community violence. Exposure may vary over time and be influenced by individual- and contextual-level factors. Identifying specific risk factors associated with more chronic and severe exposure may guide preventive intervention efforts.
Read MorePosted in: Children, Youth and Families, Marginalized GroupsPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologySocial policing may inhibit young people from feeling welcome and safe and connecting with their peers and adults in the community who can support them. Third places are public settings that foster sociability and can support young people who experience marginalization.
Read MorePosted in: Children, Youth and FamiliesWithin general classrooms, stigma continues to harm the social-emotional health and academic ability of students with learning disabilities. There is strong empirical evidence to support that inclusive classrooms are more conducive to the social, behavioral, and academic success of students with LD.
Read MorePosted in: Children, Youth and Families, Marginalized Groups | Tags: Featured ContentPublished in: Global Journal of Community Psychology PracticeLatinx high school students co-create and co-lead a course focused on identity and social action providing an example for others creating transformative educational opportunities for marginalized students.
Read MorePosted in: Children, Youth and Families, Education, Marginalized GroupsPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyLatinX youth’s cultural experiences are related to the ways in which they experience afterschool program activities and interact with staff. To better support diverse youth and their math and STEM learning, serious and thoughtful consideration should be given to the promotion of culturally responsive practices.
Read MorePosted in: Children, Youth and Families, Marginalized GroupsPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyCollective norms around race and immigration talk facilitated or impeded the extent to which these were discussed. Advisors and student leaders can embrace a “brave space” rather than a “safe space” dynamic to encourage students to participate in intersectional conversations.
Read MorePosted in: Children, Youth and Families, Mental HealthPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyNatural mentors can provide young adults critical support as they transition to college or university. Colleges and universities should help students develop and maintain close relationships with mentors.
Read MorePosted in: Children, Youth and Families, Mental HealthPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyMasculinity and mental health are related, especially for adolescent boys. Findings reveal the need to support adolescent boys to resist expectations of stereotypical masculinity.
Read MorePosted in: Children, Youth and Families, Criminal JusticePublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyYouth are not best served in JDC environments and should be diverted to community-based and therapeutic environments whenever possible. Girls’ feedback through a confidential youth advisory process prompted systemic change better suited to meet their needs.
Read MorePosted in: Children, Youth and FamiliesPublished in: American Journal of Community PsychologyThere are many commonalities among Community-Psychology-informed youth participatory approaches. However, approaches differ on the level of emphasis on research to inform action, how much decision-making power young people have throughout the process, and the role and power of adults.
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