4-H site-based youth development programs: Reaching underserved youth in targeted communities

Youth-serving organizations and the practitioners who work in them are important to the lives of young people. During critical hours, they extend learning through rewarding growth and development experiences. They also foster caring environments that optimize the development of young people in community settings. Pittman (1991) recommends strengthening the role of youth-serving organizations to reach underserved and marginalized youth, to extend programs and services to underserved youth, and to develop within and cross-sector collaboration. Urban 4-H Youth Development in Minnesota has shown that this is possible. More youth are reached with greater impact by a strengthened and targeted youth-serving system. In turn, the 4-H program is enriched, its youth development initiative is reinforced, and the urban community is invigorated by the wealth of experiences its partners and participants bring to the effort.