A Synthesis of the Research on, and a Descriptive Overview of Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish Religious Youth Programs in the United States.

This document combines the findings of two projects for the purpose of making some overall observations about the state of religious youth work in the United States. The first project was a review of the literature on such programs. Research on the topic is rare, while a vast body of indirectly related research spans many disciplines and empirical as well as theoretical vantage points. The second project set out to describe the current landscape of Protestant. Roman Catholic, and Jewish youth programs in the country. From the research it became apparent that: (1) religiosity seems to offer at least a degree of protection to youth against at-risk behavior; (2) current models of religious work do not reflect religious educators' concern for adolescents' integration into the total religious community; (3) religious youth programs now serve the young in more ways than ever, while fewer youths participate; (4) Proteztant, Catholic, and Jewish youth programs have similar goals, assumptions, delivery systems, and educational processes; (5) no one knows how many youths are served by religious youth programs; (6) four out of five adult leaders of religious youth programs are volunteers; and (7) religious youth programs tend not to be accountable to anyone beyond local parent organizations. The groups, however, tend to share committed leadership, youth empowerment, cohesive national structures, a relationship intensive process, and other directedness. A 203-item reference list is attached. (SG) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * from the original document. *********************************************************************** A SYNTHESIS OF THE RESEARCH ON, AND A DESCRIPTIVE OVERVIEW OF PROTESTANT, CATHOLIC, AND JEWISH RELIGIOUS YOUTH PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES Kenda Creasy Dean, Director, The Wesley Foundation University of Maryland at College Park Research Associate: Paul R. Yost, Department of Psychology University of Maryland at College Park February 1991 ''s U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Mc. ol Educahonat Rossarch ono Impaovement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 0 Thm dOcumont has been reproduced as recetved from the person or organization eonginatino it )14.Mtnor changes have been made to tmprove roproductIon Quality Points of 'new or op! mOnS stated in thts doc mint do not necessanly represent olftclat OERI posItion or posoy "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MERIAL BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC). " This paper was commissioned by the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development for its Task Force on Youth Development and Community Programs. The views expressed and findings offered are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the position of the Council or Carnegie Corporation. Responsibility for the accuracy of the content of the paper rests with the authors. Permission to reproduce or quote from this paper should be obtained from the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development.