Our Impact
The true work of Boys & Girls Clubs–the heart of what we do– lies fittingly at the center of our Formula for Impact. To create the optimal Outcome-Driven Club Experience, the Club provides high-yield activities and targeted programs, actively encourages young people to attend more frequently, and employs Five Key Elements for Positive Youth Development.
The latter component emerged as critically important in a 2004–05 research effort conducted by the Search Institute and BGCA to identify quality strategies and practices that Clubs use to promote the positive, healthy development of youth. The findings showed that Clubs have the potential to increase their impact on young people when they make concerted efforts to implement
five key elements in their operations.
These Five Key Elements for Positive Youth Development are:
- A Safe, Positive Environment
- Fun
- Supportive Relationships
- Opportunities and Expectations
- Recognition
Subsequent research conducted for BGCA highlighted the importance of regular attendance for achieving impact. A 30-month study published in 2009 found that youth were more likely to demonstrate greater positive outcomes related to Academic Success, Good
Character and Citizenship, and Healthy Lifestyles when they attended the Club at least 52 times per year. The positive effects were even greater when they attended 104 times per year.
