Youth Development Insight University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development blog on issues in our field

Photo of Margo Herman

Planning the future of the Next Generation Youth Work Coalition

By Margo Herman—Monday, Aprol 9, 2012

As key partners explored the next phase of the Next Generation Youth Work Coalition this past week in Dallas, it’s a prime time for the broader youth development field to be aware of the coalition purpose of bringing together individuals and organizations dedicated to developing a strong, diverse after-school and youth development workforce that is stable, prepared, supported and committed to the well being and empowerment of children and youth. More

Photo of Betsy Starr

Is it worth it? The need for compensation and professional development

By Betsy Starr—Monday, March 5, 2012

Last month my fellow bloggers asked, "How can we reinforce the belief that youth work is a career and not just a pipeline for other professions?" The answer is complex. But one key is money, and perhaps in the current economic climate, this question is the elephant in the room: Is professional development or advancement in the field worth the investment without adequate compensation? More


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This month's blog, Planning the future of the Next Generation Youth Work Coalition, was written live from the National Afterschool Association NAA conference in Dallas (April 2-4) where Next Gen hosted a track of 7 workshops (listed below). Margo Herman and Dana Fusco captured some of the hightlights and action strategies that emerged from the conference. We added a bunch of new members to the coalition while we were there and also initiated a Next Gen facebook page that includes photos from the NAA conference. "LikeUs' on Facebook! The energy was high and passion was evident during these conference sessions focused on supporting youth workers and building the field of youth work through competencies, professional development, and higher education opportunities. Read the blog and post your thoughts about the action steps. Keep the conversation and the energy flowing as we pursue a re-energized course for the coalition.

Next Gen workshops at NAA

  1. Overview of 2012 track
  2. Workforce trends–competencies
  3. Strengthening organizations from within–Using online/blended professional development tools
  4. Workforce trends–curricular
  5. Using "Self" to grow as a professional
  6. Youth work on the ground: Current trends and realities
  7. Supporting pipelines and pathways for youth workers

Download full workshop descriptions here.

The Next Generation Youth Work Coalition brings together individuals and organizations dedicated to developing a strong, diverse after-school and youth development workforce that is stable, prepared, supported and committed to the well being and empowerment of children and youth.

Next Gen focuses on advancing 5 key areas to build strong workforce support systems:

  • Standards and competencies
  • Professional development and training resources
  • Learning delivery systems
  • Career ladders and compensation guidelines
  • Research and evaluation systems

The Next Gen Coalition Partners—individuals and organizations—have 3 primary roles:
  1. Provide thought leadership around cutting edge practices, research and policy
  2. Generate lively discussion and exchange of ideas about the field of youth work.
  3. Share resources to inform and educate youth work professionals.

New Postings

We encourage posting of new publications and resources to share with our national network of youth work professionals.

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