Youth-Nex

  • Research Center

What We Do

Youth-Nex is a trans-disciplinary center with a translational approach to scholarship and innovation that is central to its work. 

Our Focus

We focus on three core domains: a) Out-of-School Time; b) Educational Systems: Middle School; and c) Community Engagement: Civic and Political.  

Our Aim

We aim to expand and apply the science of Positive Youth Development to enhance the strengths of youth and to prevent developmental risk such as violence; physical and mental health issues; substance abuse and school failure 

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What's New

Check out the latest news and resources this month from Youth-Nex. Click arrows below to scroll to the left or right for more.

Students sit in desks facing a single student sitting at the front of the class. Text in top left reads EPIC Theatre Ensemble
Youth Voices on Classroom Censorship

This new blog discusses issues of classroom censorship that took center stage during a youth-led social justice theater troupe, the EPIC Theatre Ensemble.

Graphic outlining the state of Virginia with words New Research in Brief and VPSMH
School Mental Health Brief on Links to Racial Justice & More

This brief summarizes a research article about completing the circle by linking restorative practices, socio-emotional well-being, and racial justice in schools.

A grid of six individuals smiling at the camera with a banner in the middle reading: Job Market Candidates
2023 Job Market Candidates

These Youth-Nex early career scholars are on the market this year and could be an asset to your organization.

grid showing 9 faculty members smiling at the camera with words "youth-nex faculty accepting ph.d. students."
Youth-Nex Faculty Accepting Ph.D Students in Fall 2024

Expand your career & join our YN community by applying to work with our faculty as a Ph.D student!

Youth-Nex Initiatives and Projects

Connect with Us

Youth-Nex Research

A Portrait of a Thriving Youth

The full Portrait provides an overview of adolescent development and describes the six key domains of adolescent development.

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Department or Center Associated

Portrait Self-Assessment

This self-assessment can help you reflect on how well your program, setting, or system is supporting thriving in each of the six domains described in the Portrait of a Thriving Youth.

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Department or Center Associated

Portrait Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies Overview

This overview offers a starter list of the knowledge, skills, and competencies that adolescents develop over time.

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Department or Center Associated

Portrait Infographic Resource

This 1-page flyer introduces the domains of the Portrait of a Thriving Youth.

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Department or Center Associated

Remaking Middle School Social and Emotional Learning Resource Guide

This guide provides a set of resources to accompany the SEL Learning Series videos.

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Department or Center Associated

Lab or Initiative Associated

Remaking Middle School Social and Emotional Learning Facilitation Guide

This guide includes key takeaways and reflection questions for group facilitators.

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Department or Center Associated

Lab or Initiative Associated

Youth-Nex News

Related Labs

  • RMS
  • Research Lab

Remaking Middle School

Remaking Middle School is a multi-phase initiative, elevating the innovation that is present in middle schools across the country and soliciting national input on how we ensure all students thrive in, and grow from, their experience in the middle grades. 
 

  • PIT CREW
  • Research Lab

Preventive Interventions Team: Collaborative Research on Engagement and Wellbeing

We are a multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research lab with a focus on prevention interventions that optimize implementation of evidence-based practices to improve behavior, classroom, and school experiences for youth and school personnel, and/or reduce risk for behavioral and mental health problems. 

  • READY
  • Research Lab

Relationships, Ecologies and Activities for Developing Youth Lab

We are interested in how settings and interactions can be optimized to best meet adolescents’ developmental needs. In particular, we are focused on the role that relationships (with peers, mentors, non-familial adults) and activities play in adolescent development.

Contact Us

Mailing Address

  • PO Box 400281
    405 Emmet Street South
    Charlottesville, VA 22904