The Positive Youth Development (PYD) Toolbox creates a space for people who are supporting youth in reaching their potential around Safety, Health, Education, Connection, and Contribution. We believe collaborative learning encourages us to continually improve our efforts to support youth.
This website incorporates a Positive Youth Development (PYD) tool that was developed to foster reflection, discussion, and continuous improvement for youth serving entities.
The examples provided for each PYD principle highlight how one might observe or demonstrate PYD in their program, practices and policies.
Founded on existing literature and informed by communities, Colorado defines PYD uniquely as a universal approach with a practical lens that cuts across multiple risk factors and across all levels of prevention.
PYD in Colorado is an evidence-based approach that guides communities and organizations in the way that they organize services, opportunities and supports so that all youth can be engaged and reach their full potential.
Using the top navigation pages, research and select what PYD principles your agency would like to grow.
Each page above includes a guiding principle, its indicators, and criteria for success.
Under each indicator are columns. The first column, “Planting,” outlines the foundational elements of the indicator and those criteria should be seen in “Growing” and “Growing” in “Blossoming," as each description of the PYD indicators builds on the one prior in developmental progression. Select where you are based on each indicator and use the examples to integrate PYD principles into your work.
Once you have learned more about the principles and indicators, continue to use the examples in order to integrate all 5 PYD principles into your organization.