This Innovative Strategies Practice Brief provides practical examples from promising and exemplary youth programs for implementing youth development and leadership opportunities that help youth develop Connecting competencies. Connecting is a youth development competency area that involves developing and using positive social behaviors, skills, and attitudes. The Connecting innovative strategies described in this brief focus primarily on developing and maintaining positive, supportive relationships with caring adults, peers, and families.
Some of the youth programs featured in this brief have been recognized by NCWD/Youth as Innovative Strategies and feature programs and organizations that serve youth with disabilities either as a target population or as part of other youth populations.
