1 What are the central questions of adolescence? TJLES Development - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Project Background National YSO Study Stakeholders Funders: Advisory Group: – Michael Shire, PhD, Hebrew College – Debbie Findling, EdD, Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund – Jeff Kress, PhD, The Jewish Theological Seminary 1

What are the central questions of adolescence? TJLES Development How can our work help teens thrive? To whom and How can I make for what am I To whom and what a difference in Who am I? responsible in am I connected? this world? this world? • Jewish teens learn about and positively experience Jewish holidays and Shabbat. Literature • Jewish teens have a stronger • Jewish teens feel connected • Jewish teens are inspired Cognitive sense of self. Review + Psychometric to their various and empowered to make a Testing and • Jewish teens establish strong friendships. Expert Assessment communities. positive difference in various • Jewish teens feel a sense of Piloting • Jewish teens develop strong and healthy communities and world in Consultation pride about being Jewish. • Jewish teens develop the relationships with their families. which they live. desire and commitment to • Jewish teens have • Jewish teens develop significant be part of the Jewish people experienced learning that relationships with mentors, role models, now and in the future. has been both challenging and educators. Development and valuable. • Jewish teens develop a Research and of Instrument positive relationship to the • Jewish teens are able to express their • Jewish teens have learned Report (2016) values and ethics in relation to Jewish land, people and State of to Assess 14 things that enable them to principles and wisdom. Israel. be more active participants Outcomes in Jewish communities. • Jewish teens develop the capacity (skills and language) that allows them to grapple with and express their spiritual journeys. Participating YSOs Study Components Survey Demographics 22 TJLES 30 Items Interviews Background with Teens 3-5 YSO- Current specific Items Engagement 2

Survey Distribution Unknown 88,766 37,767 text messages number of anonymous total emails OVERVIEW OF RESPONDENTS: sent out links shared JEWISH COMMUNITY-CONNECTED TEENS Jewish Educational Experiences Educational Experiences N % Only Supplementary School 2,120 12% Only Camp 552 3% Only Day School 453 3% Supplementary School + Camp 6,148 35% Key Findings and Implications Day School + Camp 3,537 20% Day School + Supplementary School 562 3% Day School + Supplementary School + Camp 3,573 20% None of the above 631 4% 3

Involvement in a YSO Matters Teens Get More from More YSO’s Teens Get More from More YSO’s Jewish Content Lifts all Boats 4

Diversity of Teens Involved in YSO’s Diversity of Teens Involved in YSO’s Gender • 0.3% identified as 44% “Gender Fluid / Non-Binary” 56% Male Female • 0.2% of respondents chose “Something Else” N=17,447 Jewish Teens Like their Parents Participation as a Teen Matters 5

Connected and Proud Being Jewish is Often About Family Strongly Agree TJLES Item 56% I like spending time with my family around the Jewish holidays. 21% I ask my parents questions about Jewish life. Relig-ish? – Celebrating Jewish Culture TJLES Item Relig-ish – Belief in God I believe in God or a universal spirit Strongly Agree 35% 64% Agree 29% Neither Agree nor Disagree 22% Disagree 8% 14% Strongly Disagree 6% 6

Teen Well-Being Teen Well-Being Top 5 Responses Largest Gender Disparity Female Male Percent of college freshmen 45% who reported that they were 40% Managing anxiety or depression 69% 58% Body image/eating disorders "frequently overwhelmed" 35% 32% Coping with academic pressure 64% senior year of high school 30% 25% Challenging sexism (e.g., 55% Self-esteem issues 61% harassment, slut shaming) 33% 20% Dealing with failure, setbacks, and 15% 55% disappointments 10% 68% Learning how to speak to others face- Self-esteem issues Data from Freshman Survey, 51% 51% to-face 5% Cooperative Institutional Research Program of UCLA 0% N = 3017 1985 2010 2016 Positives and Negatives of Social Media Antisemitism and the American Jewish Teen School Type Gender Middle School High School Post-High School Male Female 3.30 3.23 3.20 3.19 3.16 3.16 3.15 3.15 3.11 3.10 3.08 3.01 2.98 2.97 2.89 often help me cope with often help me feel good about often cause me stress. often help me cope with often help me feel good about often cause me stress. stress. myself. stress. myself. N = 3017 7

Israel Outcomes by Jewish Educational Experiences Open to Israel Strongly Agree TJLES Item 38% I feel a strong sense of connection to Israel Note: There is a significant positive relationship between years in camp and years in Jewish day school (before high school) and teens’ connection to Israel, p < .001; 31% I know about Israel’s achievements and challenges there is a significant negative relationship between years of attending supplementary school (before HS), p < .001. Travel to Israel is a Teen Peak Experience Travel to Israel is a Teen Peak Experience 100% Yes No, I do not plan on traveling to Israel No, but I currently have plans to 90% 80% 70% No, but plans 60% 50% 40% No, no plans 30% 20% Yes 10% 0% 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Age 8

Implications for Practice and Questions for Consideration 1. From Surviving to Thriving 2. Becoming Teen Focused, Not Organization Focused 3. Offering Teens a Full Spectrum of Jewish Ideas and Expression 4. Designing for More Kinds of Thriving 5. Reimagining the Role of Parents and Family 6. Teens Seeking Support from Trusted Adults 7. Using Social Media: For Good and Bad 8. Israel Education Spaces Allowing Every Question 9. Enabling Travel to Israel for More Teens https://www.jewishedproject.org/genznow 10. Investing in Youth Serving Organizations 9