Celebrating America's Youth: The Facts Are Positive

Youth volunteer their services

Adolescents who take part in community service or volunteer in political activities are more likely to continue having a strong work ethic as adults. Volunteering is also related to overall positive academic, psychological, and occupational outcomes.

• A study by the Corporation for National & Community Service found that 55 percent of 12-18-year-olds volunteered through a formal organization in 2004, compared to a volunteer rate of 29 percent for adults, though fewer youth than adults volunteered once a month or more.1
  
  
• According to another study, more than three-quarters (76 percent) of high school seniors volunteered in 2002. Rates for 8th and 10th graders were similar.2
  
  
• Regular volunteer activity among 12th grade students increased between 1991 and 2004: the percent who reported volunteering once a month or more increased from 24 to 32 percent.3
  
  
• While low-income youth are less likely to have participated in school-based volunteer service, disadvantaged youth who volunteer are more likely to volunteer again, to discuss politics with friends and with parents and other adults, to believe that people can be trusted, and to hold a positive view of the future.4
  
  

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