Noni K. Gaylord-Harden, Ph.D. - “Shifting the Narrative on Development in Youth of Color: The Case...
Transcript of Noni K. Gaylord-Harden, Ph.D. - “Shifting the Narrative on Development in Youth of Color: The Case...
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!