Positive Self Identity: Youth have a healthy self-concept and a strong belief in their own self-worth. Youth have a sense of hope about their future; they are adept at setting and attaining goals. Youth have the confidence to pursue their dreams and goals and make the necessary decisions to achieve their life plans.

Competencies: Youth have the knowledge, skills, strategies and attitudes necessary to have a positive foundation for success. Youth become competent by mastering tasks and thus demonstrating to themselves that they can do things well. Youth need to develop competence in the following areas:

                 Educational: Youth are proficient in basic educational disciplines and have
                 the capacity to utilize technology. Youth will graduate from high school and
                 are motivated to pursue learning opportunities throughout their lives.

                 Employment: Youth have the skills and attributes to be successful in
                 the work force. They are motivated to constantly develop new skills and
                 hone existing skills to maintain a competitive edge.

                 Social: Youth are able to develop and sustain positive relationships with
                 others.

                 Emotional: Youth are able to recognize, reflect on and appropriately express
                 their emotions, manage stress and cope with positive and adverse situations.

                 Cultural: Youth have an understanding and respect for their own cultural
                 identity and for the cultures of others; they are able to contribute in a
                 multicultural society and demonstrate tolerance for differences among people.

                 Community and Civic Involvement: Youth have a sense of belonging to
                 their community, family, and/ or group, and are willing to take civic
                 responsibility. Youth work closely with others to contribute to the greater good.

                 Health and Well Being: Youth live healthy lifestyles, take part in regular
                 fitness activities, are able to access health care resources and engage in 
                 positive behaviors. They are able to manage stress. They use sound
                 judgment about personal safety, nutrition and avoidance of alcohol and other
                drugs and premature sexual activity.

                Moral Compass: Youth have values that enable them to develop positive
                relationships with others. These values include honesty, integrity,
                trustworthiness, a sense of justice and fairness, respect, caring and spirituality.

Trained youth development professionals help young people achieve these outcomes through research-based curricula and programs that have been developed and tested nationally over several decades.

Boys & Girls Club members rise above the severely disadvantaged circumstances in which most of them live, and, in fact, are more likely than the general United States population to succeed in school and graduate on time, stay away from illegal drugs, gangs, and alcohol, and lead a satisfying, productive adult life. More than half of Boys & Girls Club alumni surveyed nationally in 1999 said that participating in the Boys & Girls Club "saved my life."