Youth Development (according to the Community Network for Youth Development) refers to the natural process through which all young people seek ways to meet their basic physical and social needs and to build knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in adolescence and young adulthood.

The youth development approach is a positive way of working with young people.
In contrast to a deficit approach—one focused on reducing negative behaviors—the youth development approach calls for providing young people with the developmental experiences shown to promote a healthy trajectory toward adulthood.

New Door Ventures implements the following practices to ensure that young people in its programs receive the support they need to learn and grow:

• providing physical and emotional safety 
• creating environments where young people build supportive relationships with adults and their peers 
• providing opportunities for meaningful youth participation 
• community engagement 
•  skill building

For more for information on the Community Network for Youth Development, visit www.cnyd.org.