Welcome to the Step-It-Up-2-Thrive Resource Center. This site provides you with instructions and resources to help youth envision and work towards their full potential.

Step-It-Up-2-Thrive is a theory of change with four stages. The first stage is identification of youths’ sparks, followed by development of a growth mindset. The third stage encourages youth self-reflection about indicators of thriving and risk factors in the way. The fourth stage builds youths’ goal management skills, or what we term GPS (Goal selection, Pursuit of strategies, and Shifting gears in the face of challenge). The full Step-It-Up-2-Thrive process motivates youth to achieve personal development goals.

On this page you will find a visual road map of the Step-It-Up-2-Thrive stages, with versions for professionals, parents and youth. In addition, you will find a list of the fifty-minute lessons for groups. Explore the four stages of the theory of change more deeply by clicking on each link at the top of this page.

Youth outcomes are:

• • Self-reflection—Youth learn realistic self-reflection skills and
  how to apply their strengths to challenges and opportunities.
• • A Language to Communicate—Youth and mentors develop a
  common language for framing concepts about thriving.
• • A Balanced View of Development—Youth gain a holistic
  perspective of personal development, balanced with a deep view
  of specific indicators of thriving.
• • Intrinsic Motivation & Learned Skills—Youth develop a vision for their future. They are motivated to learn skills that are indicators of thriving. Their progress is enhanced by the assistance of adult guides trained in research-based techniques.