These definitions lead to particular kinds of interventions, focused on remediation and rehabilitation for those with problems, and prevention for those at risk. The interventions are largely designed, implemented, and evaluated by adults, with little interaction with the young people they are serving. There are several compelling reasons to focus on youth as problem solvers. First, young people have serious problems. This is different from thinking that kids in and of themselves are problems, or that their experiences are somehow less significant than the public concerns of which they are a part.
Young people have to deal with many of the most pressing issues facing our country on a daily basis.
Second, young people can, and in fact must, become problem solvers. This is not only because we need them to grow up to become capable, contributing adults. We need them to become capable, contributing kids. Adults have not and cannot solve America's public problems, especially those that impact kids and are impacted by kids, on their own. Young people bring unique, necessary resources to problem solving.