Celebrating

America’s Youth

The Facts Are Positive

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

Administration on Children, Youth and Families

Family and Youth Services Bureau
Celebrating

America’s youth: 

The facts are positive

Our society often 

overlooks young 

people’s positive attitudes

and contributions, focusing

instead on problems and

challenges they may face.1

But in reality American youth are faring better

than ever! The majority are moving successfully

from childhood to adulthood. They are making

this transition with the help and support of 

families, social institutions, communities, 

and friends. 

■ They are participating in community, 

volunteer, civic, religious, and extracurricular

activities.

■ They are succeeding academically.

■ They are forming positive relationships with

parents and family.

■ They are choosing healthy behaviors. 

The statistics in this brochure give hope that,

with the right support and guidance, youth are

on the path to achieve their full potential. 
More youth are volunteering 

their services.

Adolescents who take part in community 

service or volunteer in political activities

are more likely to continue having a strong work

ethic as adults. Volunteering is also related to

overall positive academic, psychological, and

occupational outcomes.2 These positive findings

are highlighted in the following statistics:

■ Volunteer rates among young people 15–25

years old are generally higher than they are

among adults 26 and older: 40 percent of

young people reported past-year volunteer

activity.3

■ More than three-quarters (76 percent) of high

school seniors volunteered during the previous

year. Rates for 8th and 10th graders are similar.3

■ Rates of regular volunteering (defined as at

least once a month) increased between 1991

and 2001: from 24 to 35 percent among 12th

graders, from 27 to 29 percent among 10th

graders, and from 26 to 28 percent among 8th

graders.4

■ Volunteer activity among 12th grade students

continued to increase between 2000 and

2001: the percent who reported volunteering

once a month or more increased from 32 to

35 percent.4
Most young people are engaged 

in extracurricular activities.

Young people who participate in extracurricular activities—whether athletic, musical,

or artistic—generally make adjustments 

positively, perform better academically, and

complete school successfully.1 So the future

looks bright, based on the following statistics.

Athletics: A majority of young people report 

participating in organized sports, an activity

associated with increased levels of self-esteem

and motivation, overall psychological well-being,

and better body image.2

■ Between 1991 and 2001, more than two-thirds

(67 to 70 percent) of 8th graders participated

on a school athletic team, as did nearly twothirds (60 to 63 percent) of 10th graders.4

■ During the last decade, girls increasingly 

participated in school sports. For example,

among 10th grade girls, participation in school

athletics increased from 52 percent 

in 1991 to 60 percent in 2001.4

School music or other performing arts: Many

researchers have found a positive association

between arts participation and various academic

and social outcomes, such as improved school

grades and a decrease in negative social 

behaviors.2

■ In 2001, more than half (54 percent) of 8th

graders, 41 percent of 10th graders, and 42

percent of 12th graders participated in school

music or performing arts programs.4
Youth are engaged in civic 

and religious activities. 

Civic engagement: Young people who 

participate in voting and other civic 

activities—like the ones included in the statistics

below—are more likely to remain civically active

as adults.

■ Fifty percent of female and 47 percent of

male 18–25-year-olds feel they can make a

“great deal” or “some” difference in their

communities, and 54 percent of females and

49 percent of males report that “voting is an

important thing to do.”5

■ Close to half (45 percent) of female and 40

percent of male 18–24-year-olds voted in the

2000 election.6

Religious activities: Religion plays an

important role in the lives of many young

people. Youth who attend religious services are

more likely to volunteer in their communities,

participate in student government, and play

sports or exercise regularly.2

■ In 2001, 44 percent of 8th graders and 40 

percent of 10th graders attended religious

services at least weekly.4

■ Since the early 1990s, youth have increasingly

reported that religion plays a very important

part in their lives. For example, 29 percent of

eighth graders said so in 1991; 34 percent

said so in 2000.4
Young people 

are succeeding

academically.

Teens’ academic 

performance and

educational attainment

are related to how they

will do economically

later in life.1 The statistics

below are promising for

the future of America’s youth:

■ Average mathematics proficiency scores for

eighth graders increased significantly (from

273 to 278) between 2000 and 2003. The

largest gains came from students scoring 

in the bottom percentiles.7

■ More than 90 percent of young people 

(16–19-year-olds) are either enrolled in 

school or employed, and 27 percent are 

both enrolled in school and employed.8

■ Since 1971, high school completion rates

have risen from 59 to 87 percent among 

non-Hispanic Blacks (25–29-year-olds)— 

narrowing the gap with non-Hispanic Whites

from 23 percentage points in 1971 to 6 

in 2001.9

■ In 2000 and 2001, 87 percent of young adults

(18–24 years old) completed high school.8

■ In 2002, the percentage of young adults 

(25–29-year-olds) who attained a bachelor’s

degree or higher remained at an all-time high

of 29 percent.8
■ The percentage of high school graduates 

who had taken honors-level English courses

increased from 29 percent in 1998 to 34 

percent in 2000.8

■ The percentage of high school graduates 

taking advanced mathematics, science,

English, and foreign language courses

increased dramatically between 1982 

and 2000.8

Youth are forming positive relationships with parents and family. 

Teens are more likely to maximize opportunities

and avoid risks when parents are involved in

their lives.10

■ More than three-quarters (78 percent) of

youth indicate that they turn to their parents

for advice and guidance in times of need,

according to a recent national survey conducted

by the YMCA.11 The survey also found that

not having enough time with their parents is

the top concern of young people.

■ When asked who most influences their 

decisions about sex, teens say parents are

more influential (45 percent) than friends

(31 percent), teachers (6 percent), or the

media (4 percent).12

■ Nearly 6 in 10 teens (59 percent) say that

when it comes to healthy, responsible 

relationships, their parents are their 

role models.12
Young people are choosing 

healthy behaviors.

■ From 1991 to 1997 there was a 29-percent

increase in the proportion of students choosing

healthy behaviors over health-risk behaviors.13

■ Between 1990 and 2001, the number of high

school students who chose sexual abstinence

increased from 46 to 54 percent.14

■ A recent study concludes, “Teens express

more cautious attitudes and values toward 

sex than is perhaps generally believed.” For

example, 85 percent of teens agree that sex

should only occur in a long-term, committed

relationship.12

■ The majority of high school seniors perceive a

great risk of harm in regularly using any illicit

drug (from 56 percent for regular marijuana

use to 89 percent for regular heroin use).15

■ Nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of all high

school seniors perceive a great risk in smoking

one or more packs of cigarettes a day.15

■ Between 1994 and 2002, the percentage of

youth (16–24-year-olds) wearing seat belts

rose from 53 to 69 percent.16
Celebrating America’s 

youth: The Positive Youth

Development approach 

These positive statistics demonstrate that—with the support of States, communities,

organizations, and families—young people are

flourishing in their personal and community

lives. They also reflect the Positive Youth

Development approach promoted by the Family

and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB). This approach

recognizes that empowered young people need

support, guidance, and opportunities during

adolescence to develop self-assurance in four key

areas: competence (being able to do something

well), usefulness (having something to contribute),

belonging (being a part of a community and

having relationships with caring adults), and

power (having control over one's future).

From promoting job prospects and skills to 

supporting educational aspirations and healthy

lifestyles, FYSB increases youth’s leadership

capacity. FYSB leadership and staff have reached

out to thousands of youth workers, policymakers,

and others through conference speeches, special

meetings, Positive Youth Development materials,

and efforts such as the following:

■ FYSB’s Head Start Youth Initiative creates a

unique Federal partnership: youth mentors

participate in Head Start children’s literacy

activities, attend family night events and

home visits, and design new classroom projects.

■ With its research and demonstration program,

FYSB encourages State and local collaboration

to strengthen the Positive Youth Development

approach in local communities or neighborhoods.
■ The annual National Youth Summit showcases

Federal, State, and local youth programs. Young

people are Summit presenters, moderators,

artists, musicians, photographers, and planners.17

■ Youth serve on review panels for four of FYSB’s

major grant award programs: the Basic Center

Program for Runaway and Homeless Youth, the

Transitional Living Program for older youth, the

Street Outreach Program, and the Mentoring

Children of Prisoners Program.

Sources

1. “How children are doing: The mismatch between public

perception and statistical reality.” Child Trends Research

Brief, 2003. Authors: L. Guzman, L. Lippman, K. Anderson

Moore, W. O’Hare, Annie E. Casey Foundation. Available

from Child Trends, Inc., at www.childtrends.org.

2. “Volunteering,” “Participation in school athletics,”

“Participation in school music or other performing arts,”

and “Religiousity.” 2003. Author: Child Trends Databank.

Available from Child Trends, Inc., at www.childtrends.org. 

3. “Volunteering among young people.” June 2003. Author:

M. Hugo Lopez, The Center for Information and Research

on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE). Available at

www.civicyouth.org. 

4. Monitoring the Future, 1991–2002 data. Original analysis

by Child Trends, Inc. 

5. “Voter turnout among young women and men.” Authors:

M. Hugo Lopez and E. Kirby, CIRCLE and the Council for

Excellence in Government National Youth Survey, January

2002. Available at www.civicyouth.org. 

6. U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey, November

Supplements, 1972–2000. Original analysis by CIRCLE.

7. The Nation’s Report Card: Mathematics Highlights,

2003. Author: U.S. Department of Education, National

Center for Education Statistics. Available at

http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/mathematics.
8. America’s Children: Key National Indicators of 

Well-Being, 2003. Author: Federal Interagency Forum on 

Child and Family Statistics. Available at 

www.childstats.gov/americaschildren. 

9. The Condition of Education 2002. Author: U.S.

Department of Education, National Center for Education

Statistics, Tables 25-1, 25-2, 25-3. Available at

http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe.

10. Teens and Their Parents in the 21st Century: An

Examination of Trends in Teen Behavior and the Role of

Parental Involvement, 2000. Author: Council of Economic

Advisers. Available from the Council of Economic Advisers at

clinton3.nara.gov/WH/EOP/CEA/html/Teens_Paper_Final.pdf.

11. “Talking with teens: The YMCA parent and teen survey

final report.” Author: Global Strategy Group, Inc. Available

at www.ymca.net/index.jsp.

12. America’s Adults and Teens Sound Off About Teen

Pregnancy, an Annual National Survey, December 2003.

Authors: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen

Pregnancy. Available at www.teenpregnancy.org.

13. Teen Risk-taking: A Statistical Portrait, 2000. 

Authors: L. Duberstein Lindberg, S. Boggess, L. Porter, 

S. Williams, The Urban Institute. Available at

www.urban.org.

14. “Sexually experienced teens.” Author: Child Trends

Databank, 2003. Available from Child Trends, Inc., at

www.childtrends.org.

15. Monitoring the Future data, 2003. Table 9. Available at

http://monitoringthefuture.org/data/03data.html. 

16. “Research note: Safety belt use in 2002: Demographic

characteristics.” Author: D. Glassbrenner, National

Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department 

of Transportation, DOT HS 809 557. Available at 

www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-30/ncsa/AvailInf.html.

17. “Building on the strengths of America’s youth: Report

from the Second National Youth Summit.” November 6–8,

2003, Washington, DC. Author: Administration on Children

and Families, Administration for Children, Youth and

Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau. Available at

www.ncfy.com/summit/summit2003.pdf.
For more information on positive youth 

statistics and Positive Youth Development,

please contact the National Clearinghouse

on Families & Youth:

NCFY

P.O Box 13505

Silver Spring, MD 20911-3505

Phone: (301) 608-8098

Fax: (301) 608-8721

E-mail: info@ncfy.com

www.ncfy.com

Celebrating America’s Youth: The Facts are Positive was developed by Johnson,

Bassin & Shaw, Inc., for the Family and Youth Services Bureau;

Administration on Children, Youth and Families; Administration for

Children and Families; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services;

under contract No. GS10F0285K to manage the National Clearinghouse on

Families & Youth.