CHEVY CHASE, Md. - As President Bush discusses school and youth safety today with leading administration officials, educators and youth development organizations at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Md., the 4-H youth development movement continues to help the nation’s youth become confident, caring adults who feel connected to their communities. The recent school tragedies committed by troubled adolescents and adults highlight the urgent need for mechanisms to ensure youth develop into positive, contributing members of society.

Studies have shown that young people who participate in youth development organizations such as 4-H often grow into adults who are more socially competent and more likely to develop a deep sense of compassion for others. Parents of New York 4-H members reported in a 2005 study (see note 1) that their children developed long-term relationships with good role models; made friends with positive peer groups; increased their self- confidence; and had opportunities to learn things that will help them succeed in life.

A 2005 Colorado State University Cooperative Extension study (see note 2) involving 2,000 youth found that 4-H members were more likely than non-4-H’ers to say that they felt like they matter to people in their hometowns, and that they are given lots of chances to help make their town or city a better place to live. They also were more likely to be involved in projects to help others, give time or money to charity and spend time helping less fortunate people.

Through intentionally designed learn-by-doing experiences 4-H offers youth supervised independence, a sense of belonging with a positive group, a spirit of generosity towards others and wide variety of opportunities to master life challenges. 4-H programs give youth what they need to succeed in life: confidence, compassion, connections with caring adults and skills and opportunities to make contributions to their communities.

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Note 1: The New York State 4-H Club Parent Study: Do 4-H Clubs Make a Difference? By June Mead, Ph.D., Department of Human Development, Cornell University, 2005

Note 2: Colorado 4-H Impact Study, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, 2005

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4-H is a community of more than six and a half million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. National 4-H Council is the national, private sector, non-profit partner of the 4-H Youth Development Program and its parent, the Cooperative Extension System of the United States Department of Agriculture. For more information visit http://www.fourhcouncil.edu.