The Positive Youth Development 101 curriculum offers an orientation to the youth development approach for professionals new to the field of youth work. Use this free curriculum to provide professional development to new youth workers, supervisors and administrators, funders, and community volunteers.
2.1 Positive Youth Outcomes (Spanish)
2.1 Section 2: Resources & References
4.1 Resources: NRC Features of Positive Developmental Settings
4.1 Agency Climate Bingo
Employee training manuals are small handbooks which are given to employees by training managers for their future reference. Employee training manual should include relevant information which would help employees enhance their capabilities, eventually increasing their productivity and benefitting the organization.
The 10-hour curriculum is structured in five distinct sections, each of which may be presented as a stand-alone workshop:
- Positive Youth Development: theoretical underpinnings and key principles of positive youth development; brief review of adolescent development
- Positive Youth Outcomes: positive outcomes and strategies to build these outcomes
- Youth Voice and Engagement: opportunities for meaningful engagement; overcoming adultism
- Youth Development Programming: features of effective youth development settings and youth-centered learning approaches
- Youth Worker Competencies: competency frameworks, boundaries, and ethical dilemmas
Download Curriculum
Download the curriculum, activity worksheets, handouts, and slides here. Pre- and post-tests and a feedback form are also provided. To download handouts and activity worksheets individually, see Section Handouts and Activities below.The following documents are in PDF format unless otherwise indicated.
Positive Youth Development 101
Activity Worksheets: full set
Handouts: full set (English)
Slides (PowerPoint)
Pre-Test
Post-Test
Training Feedback Form (Word)
Activity Worksheets: full set
Handouts: full set (English)
Slides (PowerPoint)
Pre-Test
Post-Test
Training Feedback Form (Word)
Section 1 Handouts and Activities
1.3 Stages of Adolescent Development (English)
1.3 Stages of Adolescent Development (Spanish)
1.3 Section 1: Resources & References
1.3 Stages of Adolescent Development (Spanish)
1.3 Section 1: Resources & References
Section 2 Handouts and Activities
2.1 Positive Youth Outcomes - 6 Cs (English)2.1 Positive Youth Outcomes (Spanish)
2.1 Section 2: Resources & References
2.2 Services, Opportunities, Supports - The SOS Framework
2.2 SOS Mapping Activity
2.2 SOS Mapping Activity
2.3 Sparks Peer-to-Peer Interview
2.3 Strength-Based Information Gathering
2.3 Sparks Interview Questions
2.3 Strength-Based Information Gathering
2.3 Sparks Interview Questions
Section 3 Handouts and Activities
3.1 Meaningful Roles3.3 Section 3: Resources & References
3.3 Worksheet: Framework for Understanding Adultism
3.3 Framework for Understanding Adultism
3.3 Adultism Scenarios
3.3 Worksheet: Framework for Understanding Adultism
3.3 Framework for Understanding Adultism
3.3 Adultism Scenarios
Section 4 Handouts and Activities
4.1 Features of Positive Developmental Settings4.1 Resources: NRC Features of Positive Developmental Settings
4.1 Agency Climate Bingo
4.2 Scaffolding Overview
4.2 Positive and Corrective Feedback
4.2 Five Reasons to Stop Saying 'Good Job!'
4.2 Section 4: Resources & References
4.2 Positive and Corrective Feedback
4.2 Five Reasons to Stop Saying 'Good Job!'
4.2 Section 4: Resources & References
4.3 Engaging Youth: Planning Activities
4.3 Consensus - Action Planning
4.3 Engaging Youth: Reflection Activities
4.3 Experiential Education & the Experiential Learning Cycle
4.3 Reflective Group Conversation
4.3 Open-Ended Questions
4.3 Gardner's Multiple Intelligences
4.3 Collaborative Learning
4.3 Reflection Cube from Step It Up 2 Thrive
4.3 Consensus - Action Planning
4.3 Engaging Youth: Reflection Activities
4.3 Experiential Education & the Experiential Learning Cycle
4.3 Reflective Group Conversation
4.3 Open-Ended Questions
4.3 Gardner's Multiple Intelligences
4.3 Collaborative Learning
4.3 Reflection Cube from Step It Up 2 Thrive
Section 5 Handouts and Activities
5.1 Section 5: Resources & ReferencesAcknowledgements
Positive Youth Development 101 was developed by Jutta Dotterweich of ACT for Youth, in collaboration with the NYS 4-H State Office, the NYS 4-H Educator Association, the Risk and Thriving in Adolescence Program Work Team, and several youth development consultants and former trainers of the NYS AYD partnership. Its purpose is to increase the knowledge and skills of new youth work professionals, establish a common language among youth work professionals, and advance a youth development network in New York State.This curriculum development and training project is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Smith Lever project 2012-13-272.
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