Training and Quality Improvement
Youth Development Institute
Skill-Based Training
Fee-Based Technical Assistance - Trainings
Organizational Evaluation
YDN calendar
Youth Development Institute
YDN - Community Youth Development Institute (YDI) --
Contact the YDN Events Line at (916) 231-5333 ext. 13 for additional information, or .
What does the YDI accomplish?
Helping agencies implement youth development principles is paramount.
YDN provides a transformational training experience for agency teams
of line workers and agency managers. Through interdisciplinary, experiential
learning the YDI creates stronger interagency partnerships and more intentional,
high impact services for youth. After completing the 50-hour training,
each agency team develops a plan for aligning its work with youth development
principles. YDN staff then provides an additional 10 hours of coaching
and implementation support.
YDI Executive Summary: Evaluation Findings
Why Should Your Organization Be Involved?
The YDI curriculum was developed by the Community Network for Youth Development (CNYD) as part of the national Building Exemplary Systems for Training Initiative and will be presented by the Youth Development Network in partnership with CNYD.
Through the YDI, participating organizations and staff will:
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Develop new professional skills and abilities using research-based practices.
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Connect with a professional community of youth developers.
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Receive up to 10 hours of on-site coaching assistance to build staff and agency capacities to apply concepts and lessons learned through YDI.
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Receive resource materials and assessment information to develop an organizational plan to help agencies better align with youth development practices.
2006 session is already in progress. For details on additional YDI opportunities contact Adrian Ruiz .
Building Exemplary Practices Using Youth Led Data:
This project helps agencies use youth survey data to strengthen youth programs. Agencies will use a youth survey instrument developed by Michelle Gambone, national youth development researcher. The tool measures the quality of environments created by agencies for their youth. Specifically measured are emotional and physical safety, caring relationships, opportunities to belong, have voice and choice and make decisions, involvement in community and exposure to engaging, relevant & challenging skill development. The survey results will be provided back to each agency in a report. The data will then be used by each agency to examine its practices and determine areas for improvement. Agencies develop action plan to guide their program improvement. A post survey can be administered 6 months after implementing improvement strategies to assess if youth experiences have been strengthened. To see sample survey questions and the research behind the tool, visit www.YDSI.org
YDN will provide:
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Have Executive Director and staff commitment to the entire process.
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Have Executive Directors attend orientation session and commit to review the data with staff
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Have Executive Directors review and sign-off on action plans.
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Have one manager and one staff attend orientation(3 hrs), survey instruction session (2 hrs), data review session (8hrs), focus group instructions, organizational assessment and action plan training(8 hrs), 2-day Youth Development overview training (16hrs), and two learning community check in meetings (2 hrs each).
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Work with youth in group settings. Have 30 youth minimum to survey per site/program.
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Commit internal time to review data and hold: Staff & youth focus groups (2 hrs each), staff review of organizational practices (4-6 hrs), and staff development of action plans based on data from the above processes.
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Commit to implementation of action plans.
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Share learning’s with YDN.
For more information about youth development initiatives, please contact Bina Leftkovitz at (916) 231-5333 or .
Skill-Based Training
Offered several times throughout the year, each learning opportunity provides 25-30 individuals, organization staff and members of the community with skills relevant to implementing youth development principles. Group facilitation methods, project based learning, conflict mediation, peer programs, advocacy, youth leadership and engagement strategies, planning and evaluation target youth and adult audiences.
YDN Learning Opportunities:
Fee-Based Technical Assistance - Trainings
The YDN also offers customized training and technical assistance. This technical support is offered on site at your agency to support staff and youth skill development, along with organizational coaching and assessments in alignment with youth development practices. What's available.
For more information about customized training and technical assistance, please contact Bina Leftkovitz at (916) 231-5333 or .
Organizational Evaluation
Examine youth development practices that need to be in place in a classroom or organization using the youth development framework for practice. Do an assessment of your organization and classroom and then develop a plan to make changes. This class provides several assessment tools and also a process for reviewing practices and making an action plan.
For more information about organizational assessments, please contact Bina Leftkovitz at (916) 231-5333 or .