Kansas City, Missouri, is one of six sites in a national demonstration project, Community Change for Youth Development (CCYD), which aims to increase basic developmental supports and opportunities available to youth age 12-20 years. The demonstration focuses on five basic elements: adult support and guidance, opportunities for involvement in decision making, support through critical transitions, opportunities for using work as a developmental tool, and provision of positive activities after school, in the evenings, on weekends, and during the summer. The lead agency is the YMCA of Greater Kansas City, a traditional youth-serving organization. Because of its considerable organizational capacity, the YMCA was successful in operating the CCYD initiative, quickly implementing activities and expanding to additional neighborhoods. The YMCA faced two challenges in implementing CCYD. Implementing the work as a developmental tool core concept proved difficult, and involving adult residents in the management and other aspects of CCYD programming, a key element of the initiative, also proved difficult. The YMCA of Greater Kansas City demonstrated that with commitment and the proper technical assistance, a traditional youth-serving agency can successfully lead a youth-focused, community-change effort that involves local citizens in oversight and in shaping program offerings. (SM)
