Outcomes
The 4-H Youth Futures Hopeful Pathways Project provided college and career programming for youth aged 12-18 at three urban sites in Missouri through the 4-H Youth Futures program in years 2025-2026. Youth met at least once a week via in-school and/or afterschool settings with a caring adult club leader and school partner volunteers. Participants were provided access to engaging, high impact experiences such as field trips to local colleges and a College and Career Pathways Conference at University of Missouri. Youth identified college and career aspirations, experienced a sense of self-efficacy, and reported growth in youth thriving indicators as a result of the program.
Program Purpose
The purpose of the Adolescent College and Career Programming lab is to implement and evaluate Missouri 4-H Youth Futures: College and Careers Within Reach and other college and career programs. Youth Futures was developed in 2002 as a collaboration between the University of Missouri Extension 4-H Center for Youth Development and Lincoln University Cooperative Extension. It is a future preparedness initiative that promotes both college and other postsecondary pursuits (e.g. technical and trade schools, workforce certifications, military, entrepreneurship, and careers) as attainable goals for middle and high school youth who need access to inspiration, information, and opportunities to prepare them for life and work after high school. The mission of Youth Futures is to help youth identify and aspire to reach personal postsecondary goals based on their strengths and values and to expand accessibility to the paths leading to such goals.
More Information
Tomorrow’s early childhood educators are today’s students. In partnership with RISE-MO, Missouri 4-H Youth Programming developed engaging, activity-based lessons that introduce middle and high school students to careers in early childhood education. Through these experiences, students gain insight into the profession and discover how they can make a meaningful difference in the lives of young children. Learn more about youth programming offered through RISE-MO below.
Program Contacts
Related Resources
Learn more about Missouri 4-H Youth Futures mission, objectives, and curriculum by clicking the 4-H Youth Futures button below.
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Learn more about our Supporting Youth, Families, and Communities Labs, programs, and services by clicking the button below.