The Great Plains IDEA youth development program has its roots inPositive Youth Development Rather than focusing solely on corrective measures, a Positive Youth Development approach equips young people in the second decade of life with the skills and opportunities necessary for a successful transition into adulthood. This approach promotes positive outcomes for all youth by recognizing their strengths, fostering positive relationships, and providing youth with opportunities to learn, lead, connect, and serve.

Program Outcomes

In this program you will learn:
To interact effectively and positively with youth to promote supportive relationships, youth engagement, and youth leadership.
To navigate the multiple systems (e.g., family, school, community, policy) that influence youths lives, to appreciate the diversity of these systems, and to engage with these systems to promote positive youth development.
To design, manage, implement, and evaluate programs to enhance and support positive outcomes for youth.
To understand theory, research, and policy about youth and youth programming and to use this research-based knowledge in a variety of ways (e.g., funding proposals, program design, policy/advocacy efforts, etc.).

Career Outlook

When youth professionals take part in higher education and ongoing learning, research shows that youth program quality improves. You will learn to use more effective practices and feel more confident about your work, all of which will benefit youth.
Our graduates work with various youth-serving organizations:
Boys and Girls Club
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
Cooperative Extension services, 4-H programs
Missouri State Correctional Office
Girls, Inc.
21st Century Community Learning Centers
Administration for Native Americans
AmeriCorps
Family and Youth Services Bureau
Federal Youth Court Program
Learn and Serve America
National Guard Youth Challenge Program
Neighborhood Networks
Passport in Time
Preserve America Stewards
Promise Neighborhoods
YouthBuild