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

Mo Barbosa

Is youth work a career?

By Mo Barbosa and Laurie Jo Wallace—Monday, February 13, 2012

Is youth work something you do while you figure out what you really want to do, or is it a career? Most definitions of career include three elements: a defined occupation that is taken on over time with progressive achievement.

While many other things may also make up a career, the issues of time and progress are most distinct. More
Laurie Jo Wallace

Photo of Rebecca Goldberg

Developing Career Pathways for Youth Workers

By Rebecca Goldberg—Monday, January 9, 2012

There is a perpetual discussion in the youth work field about how to create career pathways and other growth opportunities for staff working in youth programs. We have perhaps millions of people employed across the country in a variety of youth programs ranging from before and after school to out- of-school time to youth development to summer programs and camps. Most of these jobs are part-time, and if they are full-time, the pay is low to moderate and growth opportunities are limited. How do we create more growth opportunities for youth workers? What pathways might we develop to help youth workers pursue a career in the field? More


Read all of Youth Development Insight blog


Read all of the Next Gen guest blog entries

Is youth work a career?

In this month’s blog, Is Youth Work a Career?, Mo Barbosa and Laurie Jo Wallace continue the conversation from last month about the challenges in defining youth work career pathways. They identify some of the limitation we face, mostly in perception that youth work is a stepping stone to other careers and professions, and they ask some tough questions. Read Is Youth Work a Career? and weigh in with your answers and opinions.

The NAA Convention in Dallas is coming up in April. Next Gen willl be blogging “live” from the convention, and running a track of seven workshops. We’ll also be hosting a reception, where you’ll have a chance to connect with your colleagues who are passionate about this field. We hope you’ll be there, but if you can't make it, the blog will give you a glimpse of the content.

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.

Join Us!
Sign up to receive updates from the
Next Gen Youth Work Coalition.

 

 

 


 

 

UM Extension Logo