Participation in volunteering and community service is tied to positive outcomes in increased self-awareness and self-esteem, access to adult networks, and increased civic commitment. Some key research findings

• Girls and youth from more affluent backgrounds are more likely to volunteer than others. Youth with higher levels of academic achievement, self-esteem, and social responsibility are also more likely to volunteer.
• Participation in community service is consistently associated with increased self-esteem. 
• Participation in community service is associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing positive relationships and more connections with adult networks.
• Participation in community service is associated with increases in civic engagement and commitment, service participation, and concern for the next generation.
• Participation in prosocial activities like community service during high school was linked to lower levels of drinking and marijuana use and higher rates of college graduation.
• Research evidence conflicts on whether requiring youth to participate in community service makes them less likely or more likely to volunteer in the future.

Promising practices

• Youth Corps is a program that targets young adults and entails full-time paid service work. 
• Among African-American males specifically, program participants demonstrated greater levels of personal and social responsibility and civic engagement, in addition to better employment and academic outcomes (no link available).