Interactive Guide: Using the Protective and Promotive Factors to Support Youth Well-Being

This report, written by Youth Thrive (an initiative of the Center for the Study of Social Policy), is a research-informed framework on young people and well-being, designed to “support healthy development and improved life outcomes for youth ages 9-26 across the country.” This framework identifies five protective and promotive factors by incorporating positive youth development, resiliency, and understanding the lasting impacts of trauma on development. From the Guide: “”Using the Protective and Promotive Factors to Support Youth Well-Being” is an interactive guide designed to provide those working with young people–as well as youth themselves and their parents–with questions that stimulate and enrich conversations about the presence of the Youth Thrive Protective and Promotive Factors in a young person’s life, each of which help to reduce risk, increase the likelihood of positive outcomes, and support healthy development and well-being. Intended for agency workers, judges, lawyers, CASA workers, youth, and parents, the Guide starts with the premise that actively and intentionally building the Protective and Promotive Factors should be a primary focus of every interaction with a young person, and should occur routinely as part of any decision-making or case planning activity. Divided by role and keyed to the five Factors, the Guide offers areas to help young people pursue opportunities, experiences and interests; find support when challenges arise; and identify key building blocks for their evolving well-being.”