What are the sorts of environments in which youth thrives, and how do we cultivate such environments to promote optimal development and positive behavior in youth? The Youth Development Handbook gives students and practitioners in Development Psychology access to current theory and research along with illustrations of good practice.The main section is organized around the contexts in which adolescents grow up - families and neighbourhoods, peer groups, schools, youth groups and recreation groups, workplaces, religious organizations, health centers, youth courts, cyberspace. Each chapter explores the application of youth development principles to its context, drawing on current research. The next section addresses evaluation, funding, and community-wide initiatives. The concluding chapter identifies multidisciplinary themes, including youth participation, mentoring, universal versus targeted approaches, diversity, and evidence-based practice.