ORIGINAL PAPER Mediators of Positive Youth Development Intervention Change: Promoting Change in Positive and Problem Outcomes? Kyle Eichas • Richard E. Albrecht • Arlen J. Garcia • Rachel A. Ritchie • Aida Varela • Arlene Garcia • Roberto Rinaldi • Rebecca Wang • Marilyn J. Montgomery • Wendy K. Silverman • James Jaccard • William M. Kurtines Ó Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010 Abstract Advances in applied developmental science have contributed to the large lit- erature on positive youth development (PYD) interventions. This study reports an inves- tigation of a PYD program using an outcome-mediation evaluation model that drew on the treatment intervention science literature. The Changing Lives Program (CLP) is a com- munity supported gender and ethnic inclusive PYD intervention framework. Using an empowerment approach, the CLP was implemented in a practice setting as a selective/ indicated positive youth development program for multi-ethnic, multi-problem at risk K. Eichas (&) Á R. A. Ritchie Á A. Varela Á A. Garcia Á R. Rinaldi Á R. Wang Á W. K. Silverman Á J. Jaccard Á W. M. Kurtines Department of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA e-mail: keichas@mac.com R. A. Ritchie e-mail: rritchie@fiu.edu A. Varela e-mail: avarela@fiu.edu A. Garcia e-mail: agarc076@fiu.edu R. Rinaldi e-mail: rrinaldi@fiu.edu R. Wang e-mail: rwang001@fiu.edu W. K. Silverman e-mail: silverw@fiu.edu J. Jaccard e-mail: jjaccard@fiu.edu W. M. Kurtines e-mail: kurtines@fiu.edu R. E. Albrecht State of Florida Department of Corrections, Miami, FL, USA e-mail: ralbrecht@fiu.edu 123 Child Youth Care Forum DOI 10.1007/s10566-010-9103-9