The Youth Development Academy is comprehensive training for adults who work with youth in and out of school setting.
Locations:
ISU Scott County Extension
875 Tanglefoot Lane
Bettendorf, IA 52722
PH (563) 359-7577
Rock Island County Extension Office
321 West 2nd Avenue
Milan, IL 61264
Ph (309) 756-9978
Cost:
Youth Development Academy sessions are $15 per person per session or $100 per person for all eight sessions. It is recommended, but not required, that participants attend all sessions of the Youth Development Academy. One-half tuition scholarships are available for agencies/organizations with financial need. Please submit a statement of need and amount of funds requested on letterhead with your registration form. Registration Forms are due one week prior to each workshop. Lunch will be provided at each session.
Training Sessions:
Session One: Introduction to Youth Development
September 11, 2009 9:00 AM—12:00 PM
Rock Island County Extension Office
Lead Presenter: Diane Baker
Youth development, the process of growing up and developing one’s capacities, happens no matter what we do. The challenge is to promote positive youth development and plan quality experiences with young people. This introductory session will focus on the role of the “youth worker” and the critical elements necessary for positive youth development. You will also get to know fellow participants through hands-on games and activities which you can take back and use with kids in your program.
Session Two: Kids of All Ages and Stages
October 9, 2009 9:00 AM—12:00 PM
Rock Island County Extension Office
Lead Presenter: Diane Baker
When working with youth, we sometimes find it challenging to understand why kids do the things they do. During this session we will explore ages and stages of child development in relation to physical, social, emotional and cognitive child development. Then, we’ll explore learning styles and discover your own personal learning style and styles that may be different from yours, yet present in your program.
Session Three: Risk and Resiliency
November 13, 2009 9:00 AM—12:00 PM
Scott County Extension Office
Lead Presenter: Jennifer Best
What makes a young person at-risk? What protective factors contribute to resiliency of youth? Understanding the role of the youth service worker in risk and resiliency is crucial to youth development programs. Find out how to help your young people develop these skills.
Session Four: Learning is Fun...When You Just Experience It
December 11, 2009 9:00 AM—12:00 PM
Rock Island County Extension Office
Lead Presenter: Diane Baker
Experiential learning is a teaching technique that has been around for many years, but is still a new concept to many. Experiential learning is much more than just hands-on learning. Experiential learning is about learning through as many senses as possible and then following that learning up with discussion time to encourage young people to share, process, generalize and apply what they have learned to their future.
Session Five: Culture, Family and Diversity
January 8, 2010 9:00 AM — 12:00 PM
Scott County Extension Office
Lead Presenter: Jennifer Best
In an increasingly diverse world, youth service workers need to understand how a young person’s culture and family values effect their behavior and attitudes. Learn about socio-cultural value systems, working with diverse audiences, and the causes and effects of discrimination.
Session Six: Group Management and Communicating with Young People
February 19, 2010 9:00 AM—12:00 PM
Scott County Extension Office
Lead Presenter: Jennifer Best
Setting effective rules and managing behavior is important for a youth’s physical and emotional safety—and youth service workers’ sanity. Learn how to create rules and consequences, manage groups and communicate effectively with young people.
Session Seven: Program Planning and Evaluation
March 12, 2010 9:00 AM—12:00 PM
Scott County Extension Office
Lead Presenter: Jennifer Best
What are the goals of your program? How do you know if you are accomplishing them? Having a program plan and evaluating it correctly are very important parts of accomplishing youth development goals and showing outcomes to boards and funders. This session will help you learn the basics.
Session Eight: Making Learning Fun
April 16, 2010 9:00 AM—12:00 PM
Rock Island County Extension Office
Lead Presenter: Diane Baker
Games, activities, experiments, crafts … these are all great ways to make learning fun. Prepare to engage in many different experiences during this session as you learn new techniques for making learning fun in your program.
For more information about the Youth Development Academy, please contact Jennifer Best in the Scott County Extension Office at (563) 359-7577 or e-mail at jbest@iastate.edu or Diane Baker in the Rock Island County Extension Office (309) 796-0512 or e-mail at bakerd@uiuc.edu .