Youth Development

The last several decades have witnessed a growing scepticism in
America about the capacity of social programs—especially publicly
funded social programs—to address the problems and prospects of
American youth. This scepticism is especially strong once youth reach
the pre-teen years and beyond. Thus the interest in early childhood programs
continues and grows—while support for teenage employment
programs declines and dwindles. The body politic seems to be in the
process of deciding that a young person’s life course is set in concrete
after the onset of puberty.