About Roots of Action

Roots of Action is a free educational resource for parents, educators, and youth mentors who want to help children and teenagers thrive—not only in school, but in life.

Positive youth development begins with a simple shift in perspective: young people are not problems to be managed, but people whose strengths can be recognized, practiced, and supported. A federal youth-development framework describes this work as bringing together positive experiences, positive relationships, and positive environments. Roots of Action translates that broad body of research into clear language and practical guidance for the adults who influence young people’s lives.

Founded in 2011 by developmental psychologist Marilyn Price-Mitchell, PhD, the site grew from a central question: What helps young people develop the inner strengths to become caring family members, innovative workers, ethical leaders, and engaged citizens? Today, Roots of Action preserves more than a decade of research-informed articles and free resources for families, schools, and communities.

Grounded in Positive Growth & Development

Roots of Action is grounded in the belief that childhood and adolescence are journeys of growth and self-discovery. Academic learning matters, but grades and test scores tell only part of a child’s story. Young people also need opportunities to understand themselves, build healthy relationships, meet challenges, make thoughtful choices, and contribute to the world around them.

Across the site, four ideas guide the work:

Development begins with strengths. Children and teens grow when adults notice what is developing—not only what is missing or going wrong.
Relationships shape development. Parents, teachers, mentors, peers, and communities all help young people discover who they are and what they can become.
Inner strengths grow through practice. Curiosity, empathy, resilience, and other human abilities are exercised through everyday experiences, reflection, challenge, and support.
Success is larger than achievement. A meaningful definition of success includes well-being, purpose, character, relationships, learning, and contribution.

The Compass: A Shared Language for Growth

Roots of Action is organized around The Compass Advantage, a developmental framework grounded in multidisciplinary research. The Compass names eight interconnected attributes: curiosity, creativity, empathy, integrity, resilience, resourcefulness, self-awareness, and sociability.

The Compass is not a diagnostic assessment, a rigid curriculum, or a replacement for social-emotional learning (SEL) or other respected youth-development frameworks. It offers something simpler: a memorable lens and shared vocabulary that children, families, educators, and community leaders can use to talk about the strengths that support learning, well-being, and contribution.

The eight attributes are supported by research from developmental psychology, education, neuroscience, positive psychology, and related fields. They work together as an internal compass—helping young people learn to understand themselves, navigate relationships and challenges, and gradually become pilots of their own lives. Learn why a shared language matters.

What You Will Find Here

Research-informed articles that connect developmental science with the everyday questions faced by parents, teachers, and youth mentors. Articles can be browsed by audience or by Compass attribute.
Free tools, guides, and graphics that make it easier to introduce the Compass, invite reflection, and begin conversations at home, in classrooms, and in youth programs.
Research pages for readers who want to explore studies and scholarly work related to adolescent life satisfaction, civic engagement, human development, and thriving.

Where to Begin

Parents and caregivers may wish to begin with Successful Kids Need 8 Core Abilities: How to Parent With Purpose.
Educators may wish to explore Student Success Develops From Inside Out and the free educator guides in Tools & Guides.
Youth mentors and community leaders can browse the article archive for practical ways to strengthen relationships, reflection, leadership, and contribution.

Schools, nonprofit organizations, and parent educators are also welcome to share materials in accordance with the Roots of Action reprint guidelines.

About the Founder

Marilyn Price-Mitchell, PhD, is a developmental psychologist, researcher, and author who founded Roots of Action in 2011. Her work has focused on positive youth development, family-school-community partnerships, youth civic engagement, and the inner strengths that help people thrive across the lifespan. Read about Marilyn’s career and selected milestones.

Contributing Authors

Roots of Action is grateful to the contributing authors whose knowledge and experience enriches this site. Roots of Action no longer accepts guest submissions.

Rick Ackerly, M.Ed., educator and principal; author of Genius in Every Child.

Mark Bertin, M.D., developmental behavioral pediatrician and author of Mindful Parenting for ADHD.

Michele Borba, Ed.D., educational psychologist and author of UnSelfie

Mona M. Delahooke, Ph.D., child psychologist and author of Brain-Body Parenting.

Ann Douglas, mental health clinician and author of Parenting Through the Storm.

Rebecca Eanes, founder of Positive-Parents.org and author of Positive Parenting.

Joanne Foster, Ed.D. educator and author of Bust your BUTS.

Jennifer Fraser, Ph.D. bullying expert and author of Teaching Bullies.

Cindy Goldrich, Ed.M., mental health counselor and author of 8 Keys to Parenting Children with ADHD.

Ondine Gross, M.S., Ed. M., school psychologist and author of Restore the Respect.

Brenna M. Hicks, Ph.D., play therapist and author of Device Detox.

Katie Hurley, LCSW, child and adolescent psychotherapist and author of No More Mean Girls.

Nancy Kopman, musician, early childhood educator, and composer of children’s music.

Vanessa Lapointe, Ph.D., psychologist and author of Discipline Without Damage.

Raychelle Cassada Lohmann, MS, LPC, GCDF, counselor and author of The Anger Workbook for Teens.

Laura Markham, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids.

Susan Newman, Ph.D., social psychologist and author of The Book of No.

Steve Oshin, M.A., L.M.H.C.A., counseling psychologist with focus on child’s brain development.

Rachel Macy Stafford, author of Hands Free Mama and Only Love Today.

Judy Stevens-Long, Ph.D., researcher in human development and author of Living Well, Dying Well and Adult Life.

Patricia Wooster, teen advocate and author of Ignite Your Spark.

Supporting Future Research

Those who wish to support research aligned with the Roots of Action vision may contribute to the Price-Mitchell Endowed Fund for Youth Research at Fielding Graduate University.

Contact

For questions about using, citing, translating, or licensing Roots of Action materials, please use contact info below. Unsolicited commercial inquiries may not receive a response.