Who are you calling a YOUTH WORKER?! Our shared role in the positive development of young people John Brandon, MCCOY Inc.

Who are you calling aYOUTH WORKER?!

Our shared role in the positive development of young people

John Brandon, MCCOY Inc.

Youth Work is for Everyone!

Young people move in multiple circles, each of which has an opportunity to impact a young person significantly

• A child’s life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark—Chinese Proverb

DEFINITION

• A youth worker is an individual who works with and on behalf of children and youth to facilitate their personal, social, and educational development…..

Definition continues…

• …and enable them to gain a voice, influence, and place in society as they make the transition from dependence to independence.

(from the next generation Youth Work Coalition)

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT is..

• Conceptual Definition

A process by which all young people seek ways to meet their basic physical and social needs and to build competencies (knowledge and skills) necessary to succeed in adolescence and adulthood.

• Practical Definition

An approach to working with young people that defines goals (outcomes) based on capacities, strengths, and developmental needs of youth

Young people are deemed COMPETENT and HEALTHY

when they:

1) develop a positive sense of self and a sense of connection and commitment to others; and

develop abilities and motivation to succeed in school and participate fully in family and community life.

• To successfully achieve these developmental outcomes, ALL young people require:

• SUPPORTS• OPPORTUNITIES • SERVICES

A VISION

Every young person in our community, from the time they are born until they reach young adulthood, will have access to quality opportunities in every setting in which they interact, to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive, learn, engage, work and lead.

Organizing YD Work

• Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets

• Communities That Care

• Ready by 21 Quality Counts

The American Reality

Only 4 in 10 youth ready, only 1 in 3 youth supported, too few leaders effective.

The American Dilemma

Fragmentation, complacency, and low expectations of youth, communities and leaders

The American Dream

All youth ready, every family and community supportive,

each leader effective.

The Ready by 21™ Challenge

Change the odds for youth by changing the way we do business

Because Rhetoric and Reality Don’t Match

Ready for Work

Youth Employment Outcomes

Ready for

CollegeAcademic

Outcomes

Ready for LifeYouth Development Outcomes

21st Century Skills & Content

Information & Media LiteracyCommunication

Critical & Systems ThinkingProblem Solving

Creativity, Intellectual CuriosityInterpersonal Skills

Self-DirectionAccountability and Adaptability

Social ResponsibilityFinancial LiteracyGlobal Awareness

Civic Literacy

Cultural, Physical & Behavioral Health Knowledge & Skills

Specific Vocational Knowledge & Skills

There is Increasing Agreement on Skills Needed for the 21st Century

Subject Matter Knowledge

Community partners are calling for and contributing to the development of broader skills and knowledge.

These Supports Make a Difference

Reach Counts

FamiliesPeer GroupsSchools and Training OrganizationsHigher EducationYouth-serving OrganizationsCBOs (Non-profit service providers) Workforce Development Organizations Businesses (jobs, internships, apprenticeships)Faith-based OrganizationsLibrariesParks & Recreation DepartmentsCommunity-based Health ServicesSocial Service AgenciesLaw Enforcement/Juvenile Justice

Many individuals, organizations and systems operate in parallel to fill the white space.

The Result: We add on without ever adding up so

we never know the real reach of our combined efforts.

Some Solutions:•Put someone in charge

•Map the program landscape•Define what the landscape should

look like•Align resources & policies

•Hold decision-makers accountable for overall results

Ready by 21™ Quality Counts Initiative

It is Marketable

It Matters

It is Malleable

It is Measureable

Research shows that improved youth outcomes requires program attendance and program quality.

The core elements of program quality are both measurable and consistent across a broad range of program types.

Decision-makers and providers will invest in improving quality if they believe that it matters, is measurable and is

malleable given available resources.

Most programs can improve quality by undertaking integrated assessment and improvement efforts.

Assertion 1. Quality CountsAssertion #1: Quality Counts

QUALITY IS KEY

Variety of tools to assess quality

• Youth Program Quality Assessment-YPQA—Center for Youth Program Quality

• Assessing Afterschool Program Practices Tool—NIOST/Mass. Dept. of Education

• Program Observation Tool—National Afterschool Association

The Ready by 21™ Challenge

At its heart,

• Youth development is RELATIONAL

• Youth work is YOUTH CENTERED

• Youth work is greater than the sum of all the parts

• Youth work is community based work

• Youth work is DEVELOPMENTAL rather than PREVENTIVE.

Getting to Work

• Invite yourself to dinner

• Invite others to your table when forming workgroups around health issues

• Engage young people and give them significant and meaningful roles

• Advocate—loudly

• Don’t sit back—step up

• Don’t forget the family!!!

Helpful websites

• www.nydic.org National Youth Development Information Center

• www.search-institute.org Search Institute

• www.forumfyi.org Forum for Youth Investment

• www.americaspromise.org America’s Promise Alliance

• www.naa.org National Afterschool Alliance

Helpful Websites

• www.nn4youth.org National Network for Youth

• www.findyouthinfo.gov Federal programs pertaining to youth

• www.chapinhall.org Chapin Hall Center for Adolescence U. of Chicago

• www.mccoyouth.org Marion County Commission on Youth--Indianapolis

Contact information

John Brandon

[email protected]

317-921-1288