Discover how Search Institute's collaborative approach with youth transforms research into meaningful impact, fostering environments where young people can thrive and lead.| blog.searchinstitute.org
As we navigate cultural shifts, Search Institute continues to emphasize the importance of youth-centered systems, developmental relationships, and unwavering commitment to youth thriving.| blog.searchinstitute.org
In every young person’s life, there are relationships that shape who they are, who they become, and what they believe is possible. At Search Institute, we call these Developmental Relationships, and they are at the heart of our work and vision.| Search Institute Blog
At Search Institute, we believe that nothing has more impact in the life of a child than positive relationships. This simple but powerful insight is the root of our work on the Developmental Relationships Framework, a framework that has now helped hundreds of thousands of adults build stronger, more meaningful relationships with the young people they serve.| Search Institute Blog
At Search Institute, we believe that thriving youth are the foundation of thriving communities. Yet far too often, the systems that surround young people, including schools, community programs, public services, and more, are built around outcomes rather than relationships. If we are serious about transforming youth thriving, we must start with what decades of research and experience make clear: relationships are the active ingredient in positive youth development.| Search Institute Blog
Empowering youth voices to transform education: Good Trouble fosters leadership, belonging, and purpose, shifting the narrative from "troubled youth" to strength-based development and intergenerational collaboration.| blog.searchinstitute.org
Meet Michael Wright, Search Institute's Senior Learning Manager, as he discusses blending research, youth voice, and practitioner wisdom to create impactful learning experiences for youth development.| blog.searchinstitute.org
Administrators are crucial in fostering relationship-rich schools by implementing developmental relationships, coaching educators, identifying support gaps, and cultivating a strong relational culture.| blog.searchinstitute.org
Meet Nanyamka Redmond, Ph.D. and explore her insights on youth development, coach-athlete relationships, and social justice in her impactful work at Search Institute.| blog.searchinstitute.org
Discover 8 key principles to activate developmental relationships and empower youth to thrive across various contexts in their lives.| blog.searchinstitute.org
Meet Monica Dixon, Senior Director of Solutions at Search Institute! Monica shares her insights on co-creating tools and strategies to empower youth and adults, and support youth thriving.| blog.searchinstitute.org
Discover the vital role of relationships in youth thriving and explore actionable strategies to build supportive, developmental connections within organizations and communities.| blog.searchinstitute.org
By Kent Pekel, Ed.D. Nearly a decade ago, an important meta-analysis showed that implementing high-quality social and emotional learning (SEL) programs in schools can lead to significant increases in students’ academic and behavioral outcomes (Durlak et al, 2011). Partly as a result of that study and others like it, thousands of schools and out-of-school time [...] The post How Can You Integrate SEL Into Everything You Do? appeared first on Search Institute.| Search Institute
By Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, Ph.D., Senior Scholar Q: What do Play-Doh, Bubble Wrap, Post-It Notes, and treadmills have in common? A: They were all created for one purpose and were found to be very useful for something very different.* Those four famous switch-ups are in a class of their own. However, they offer an analogy [...] The post It Starts with Us: Building Relationships Among Adult Staff appeared first on Search Institute.| Search Institute
By Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, Ph.D., Senior Scholar Many people have influenced Search Institute’s work across our 60-plus years. But aside from staff, the person with the greatest influence on our work across multiple decades has been Dr. Barbara B. Varenhorst, who died last week at age 92. To understand why, it helps to start with [...] The post A Tribute to Dr. Barbara B. Varenhorst, “Educator of the Heart” appeared first on Search Institute.| Search Institute
By Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, Ph.D., Senior Scholar Diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI). Racial equity. Racial justice. Each term has its own emphasis and meaning. And together, along with many others, they point to a broad and deep current social challenge facing not only the United States, but the world. How do we treat one another and [...] The post Advancing Racial Justice and Equity Through Developmental Relationships appeared first on Search Institute.| Search Institute
By Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, Ph.D., Senior Scholar Saying relationships are important for a young person to learn and grow is like saying water is important for a swimming pool. A decade ago, one youth worker wrote something like (paraphrased slightly): “I’m still not sure whom the relational youth work fanatics think they are arguing against.” [...] The post Talking Past Each Other: The Challenge of Communicating About Developmental Relationships appeared first on Search Institute.| Search Institute
By Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, Ph.D., Senior Scholar Kurt Lewin (1890 – 1947)—a pioneer in social psychology, “action research,” and organizational development—is widely quoted as saying a two things (among many others): “There is nothing so practical as a good theory.” “If you want truly to understand something, try to change it.” 1 The intentional dialectical [...] The post When Theory Gets Practical: The Value of the Developmental Relationships Framework appeared first on S...| Search Institute
By Ashley Boat, Research Scientist, Search Institute After months of distance learning, many Minnesota students are transitioning back to in-person learning this month. These students are returning to the classroom with the weight of the COVID-19 pandemic resting heavily on their minds and well-being. The list of stressors is long: the loss of loved ones, [...] The post Restart with Relationships: For Most Minnesota Youth, Strong Youth-Adult Relationships Weren’t Present Even Before the Pan...| Search Institute
By Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, Ph.D, Senior Scholar, Search Institute I spent most of my childhood near Arusha, Tanzania, the launching point to visit many of the world’s great wildlife sanctuaries (many now threatened). In a matter of a few hours, we could visit half a dozen world-renowned parks such as Ngorongoro Crater, Amboseli National Park, [...] The post Deep Relationships in the Faith Community Are There, But Often Harder to Spot appeared first on Search Institute.| Search Institute
By Peter C. Scales, Ph.D. and Benjamin J. Houltberg, Ph.D., Search Institute We wrote a brief white paper recently about a new Search Institute initiative being planned about youth development through sports, specifically, about developmental relationships and sporting honor, and why youth sports needs more coaching around those themes. We wrote that white paper before [...] The post We Need Youth Sports Now More than Ever appeared first on Search Institute.| Search Institute
By Kent Pekel, Ed.D., President and CEO, Search Institute Joe Biden didn’t speak about education very often during the presidential campaign of 2020 but, paradoxically, some of his best moments occurred when cameras captured him interacting with young people. Those moments included Mr. Biden’s exchanges with 13 year-old Brayden Harrington about overcoming stuttering, and the [...] The post Joe Biden’s Moment and America’s Youth appeared first on Search Institute.| Search Institute