Overview of 4-H Champions Network

On Sunday, October 9, 2022, over thirty 4-H Champions convened in Madison Wisconsin to discuss innovative ways to implement the 4-H Thriving Model of positive youth development at the national, state, and county levels. The Regional 4-H Positive Youth Development Champion Network consists of up to two Thrive Champions per state who are organized according to geographical region of the United States, including U.S. territories. See https://padlet.com/maryarnold2/c1798n2yhz1sikcf Each Champion commits for a term of up to three years in order to disseminate the 4-H Thriving Model for their state-level constituencies. Before their term expires, Champions identify their successor in order to continue the work of implementing the 4-H Thriving Model.

What is the 4-H Thriving Model?

The 4-H Thriving Model, originally proposed by Dr. Mary Arnold, is a theoretical framework that helps practitioners understand how youth develop in 4-H, which can inform program planning and evaluation through a standardized theoretical model. The model provides a resiliency-based lens of youth development and highlights how high quality program contexts relate to youth proximal and distal outcomes. The model outlines three distinct structures: 1) 4-H developmental context, 2) youth thriving, and 3) positive youth development outcomes.

Key constructs of the model

Central to the model is the concept of a youth's "spark," which is defined as a "passion for a self-identified interest or skill, or a capacity that metaphorically lights a fire in the adolescent's life, providing energy, joy, purpose, and direction" (Scales et al., 2011, p. 264). This spark is assumed to provide a catalyst for change that, when coupled with a nurturing developmental context, can lead to indicators of youth's thriving, such as openness to challenge and discovery, hopeful purpose, transcendent awareness, pro-social orientation, positive emotionality, and intentional self-regulation. The result of thriving can lead to youth developmental outcomes, such as academic motivation, academic success, reduction in risk behaviors, healthful choices, social competence, personal standards, connection to others, and contribution to others.

For more information about the 4-H Thriving Model, please visit the website: https://helping-youth-thrive.extension.org/

References

Arnold, M. E., & Gagnon, R. J. (2020). Positive youth development theory in practice: An update on the 4-H Thriving Model. Journal of youth development (Online), 15(6), 1-23. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2020.954 

Scales, P. C., Benson, P. L., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (2011). Adolescent thriving: The role of sparks, relationships, and empowerment. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40, 263-277. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-010-9578-6