Exploring the research behind positive youth development can be critical to how we understand and work with young people. In this class you will create resources and learn skills to help you work with young people. The content comes from a combination of real youth work experience and research-based material including:
- Positive youth development
- Basic youth needs
- Ecological context
- High quality programming
- Youth worker expertise
Activities include both synchronized group time and individual learning. The course covers three aspects of youth work:
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The Field of Youth Development (Modules 1 and 2)
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How to Support Youth Needs (Modules 3 and 4)
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Your Role as a Youth Worker (Module 5)
Who should attend
Direct service providers, part-time staff and volunteers who work with youth.
How it works
Each week a new set of modules will be available and open 24 hours a day. Expect to spend four to six hours per week on course content and live webinars. Although the activities in each module (pre-recorded presentation, discussion boards, readings, etc.) can be completed on your own time, it is expected that all participants keep up with the content for the appropriate week.
There are also opportunities to learn together as a group during 3 live webinars. Note: All webinars are recorded.
Participants can expect to
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Interact with module presentations.
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Take part in live webinars.
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Engage in discussion boards with other youth workers.
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Explore articles, videos and websites.
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Understand the research behind positive youth development.
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Learn how positive youth development changes the way we work with young people.
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Learn from networking with a group of other youth workers.
More about Youth Work Matters
Robideau, K. & Santl, K. (2020). Youth Work Matters: Online Professional Development for Youth Workers. Journal of Youth Development [online], 15(1), 70-78.
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High-speed internet
- Computer speakers
- Web cam and headset are recommended, but not required.
"Where do I start? This course has given me the language/skills/tools to intentionally develop programming that keeps the young people central and to intentionally enhance dual learning between adults and youth with process, dialogue, and decision making."
"This workshop made me take a look back in many different ways on how I interact and how I can work with youth. I think it helped me open up and see youth in a different perspective by making me remember what it was like to be young again. I also thought there were a few great pieces on working with adults and thinking about how we can program differently. It moves me from assuming the responsibility of having to plan activities/programs in order to provide opportunities for the youth to experience leadership (service). One obstacle to overcome is the emphasis that has been put on numbers. So much pressure has been put on 4-H PCs to grow the program in this way. I will be more intentional about selling "quality" to the stakeholders rather than "quantity". There is a risk in this, but if we don't take it, we are doing a disservice to the youth and the stakeholders, because we will not produce the results that we are claiming."