Young Adult Success
Foundations for Young Adult Success
The Foundations for Young Adult Success is a framework that outlines a set of developmental factors integral to success in young adulthood. It was developed by UChicago Consortium on School Research, a research organization focused on student success and school improvement. The framework focuses on the knowledge, skills, behaviors, and attitudes young people need to succeed in college and career, have healthy relationships, be engaged citizens, and make wise choices.
Breakdown by Domain
Domain Key
Cognitive
Emotion
Social
Values
Perspectives
Identity
34%
6%
6%
23%
6%
26%
Key Features
Context & Culture
- Acknowledges individual differences in developmental opportunities, needs, and growth
- Discusses in detail how race, gender, and socio-economic status impact access to developmental opportunities as well as the way in which skills are learned and deployed across different contexts
- Provides information about the impact of dominant cultural norms on youth and the additional skills that may be required to navigate them (e.g., code-switching)"
- Provides information about the importance of social contexts and relationships
- Discusses in detail how development is impacted by various settings and contexts, including the individual; everyday home, school, and organized out-of-school contexts; the community; and larger social, political, and economic contexts
Developmental Perspective
- Acknowledges that skills build on and influence each other over time and includes a chapter on developmental progression
- Provides key tasks for various developmental stages from childhood to young adulthood (ages 3-5, 6-10, 11-14, 15-18, and 19-22) and discusses which parts of the framework are most salient during those stages
Associated Outcomes
- Discusses how each component is linked to adult outcomes, including academics, social and behavioral outcomes, income, and job performance
Available Resources
Support Materials
- Provides summary documents, an infographic, and an informational webinar
- Includes video of a related talk about educating the “whole child” to achieve broader student outcomes
Programs & Strategies
- Highlights the importance of facilitating “developmental experiences” where young people have opportunities for action and reflection in the context of social interactions with others
- No programs or strategies provided
Measurement Tools
- Notes that measurement is important, but cautions against misusing measurement tools
- No tools provided
Key Publications
- Nagaoka, J., Farrington, C. A., Ehrlich, S.B. & Heath, R.D.. (2015). Foundations for young adult success: A developmental framework. Retrieved from: https://consortium.uchicago.edu/publications/foundations-young-adult-success-developmental-framework