Capacity-building for Youth Workers Through Community-based Partnerships

Abstract

Although positive youth development (PYD) is increasingly influential in the field of youth programming, core knowledge and competencies for youth workers continue to be defined. Youth serving agencies throughout the United States face serious obstacles in the creation of a stable and well-trained workforce, despite the presence of many talented and resourceful individuals who work with youth in the community. One strategy for organizational and staff development is through PYD-oriented, community-based partnerships designed to enhance youth worker knowledge and competence. Two different partnerships are described in this report. The first brought together experts in youth work, health, and trauma, and focused on improving youth worker response to psychologic trauma commonly experienced by urban youth. This partnership used an iterative reflective practice approach to describe best practices in youth work. The second partnership strategically taught evaluation skills to youth program consumers, AmeriCorps service members, and adult youth workers to advance youth-adult partnerships. These exemplars demonstrate that partnerships can drive systems for improving competencies in youth workers and the capacities of youth services.

Fostering positive youth and staff development: Understanding the roles and experiences of the afterschool workforce

“…Approximately half of the youth‐workers report a lack of promotion or advancement in their afterschool jobs (Davidson, et al, 2011). However, a commitment to internal capacity‐building which includes the opportunity to advance, increased responsibility, more recognition, and greater compensation, correlates with positive outcomes for afterschool staff (Peake et al, 2006). These investments may then contribute to distal impacts on the community if ASIs continue to work in the field of positive youth development, education, or community improvement.…”

“…From a developmental perspective, young adults hired as ASIs may be navigating more personal and professional changes, identity conflicts, and critical decision‐making moments related to higher education and employment (Arnett, 1999; Erikson, 1968), often with little social support (Osgood, Ruth, Eccles, Jacobs, & Barber, 2005). Lastly, ASIs are more likely to be from the local communities in which they work and have similar backgrounds to the youth they serve (Peake, Gaffney, & Surko, 2006). In sum, working in ASPs can be a meaningful early‐career opportunity for young adults—offering mentoring and skill‐building in a highly familiar context.…”

Preparing Capable Youth Workers: The Project Youth Extension Service Approach

“…Interns who experience a climate of support and challenge (Anderson-Nathe, 2008;Gambone et al, 2002) and build assets as young adults (Scales et al, 2016) are empowered to promote program quality (Eccles & Gootman, 2002;Smith et al, 2010) and assets needed by military youth (Easterbrooks, Ginsberg, & Lerner, 2013). Contributing to meaningful change also enhances intern learning and motivation (Peake, Gaffney, & Surko, 2006).…”

Engagement and Action for Health: The Contribution of Leaders’ Collaborative Skills to Partnership Success

“…Collaboration across professional and agency boundaries has taken many approaches, involving shared decision-making, pooled budgets and integrated provision [ 1 – 6 ]. Partnerships are becoming the norm for capacity building and development in public health, health education and disease prevention [ 7 – 11 ]. Many granting Foundations such as W.K.…”

“…In addition, successful CPs build on other factors: broad stakeholder and community representation, administrative/ management skills and quality communication [ 7 , 29 – 31 ]; and staff and lay members’ expertise and experience [ 11 , 32 , 33 ]. The costs and benefits of participation are important [ 34 , 35 ], as they enhance member and resource allocation satisfaction [ 36 ].…”