Nebraska School-Age and Youth Development Core Competencies

1. Nebraska School-Age and Youth Development Core Competencies Webinar by: Michelle Krehbiel Kim Larson January 18, 2011

2. Goal of Competencies Nebraska’s School-Age and Youth Development Professional Core Competencies are voluntary, and designed to promote professionalism in the field of youth development.

3. Vision for Core Competencies All children and youth in Nebraska have caregivers, youth development workers, and teachers who are well prepared, knowledgeable, and possess the necessary tools to help the children and youth, with whom they work, reach their full potential.

4. Document Link Nebraska School-Age and Youth Development Core Competencies are located at: http://www.nebraskaclcnetwork.org/resources/quality.html

6. Core Competencies Are Based on These Premises: • Youth require a supportive environment in which to develop. • Cultural diversity impacts child and youth development. • Quality out-of-school programs support connections between school day, afterschool, and home.

7. In Other Words….. The core competencies are about creating a quality school-age and youth worker.

8. Core Competencies Apply to All Core competencies provide a broad categorization of knowledge and skills that apply across all roles in the school-age and youth development field.

9. Definitions in the Document • School-age includes youth between five and ten years of age. • Youth includes young adults between 11 and 18 years of age. • Youth development is the process that all young people go through on the way to adulthood, and includes those between 11-18 years of age.

10. A Team of Professionals in the Field Developed the Core Competencies • Core Competencies Leadership Team • Core Competencies Writing Team • Core Competencies Review Team

13. Core Competencies and 21st CCLC Program Goals The core competency document addresses two of the three 21st CCLC program goals: • Increase social benefits and positive behavioral changes. • Increase family and community engagement in supporting student’s education. But NOT… • Improve student learning performance in one or more core academic areas.

14. Looking at the Document

15. Nebraska’s Core Competency Levels • The Core Competencies are divided into three levels of skills. • Entry • Intermediate • Advanced • The levels build upon each other. • Professionals may be at different levels within the core knowledge areas depending on their background experience and training.

16. Definition of Levels • Entry Level: Skills needed by those new to the field. • Intermediate level: Skills you would expect to see after two to three years of working in the field. • Advanced level: Skills you would see in someone in the field for three or more years, who is knowledgeable about the research, best practices, and effective services.

17. How the Levels Work • The skills and knowledge needed increase with each level. • A person might be at one level in one competency area, and at another level in another competency area. Ideally • People who are at level 2 should be able to do everything in levels 1 and 2.

18. Core Competency Areas Nebraska’s School-Age and Youth Development Professional Core Competencies are divided into six areas of core knowledge and skills. • Growth and development • Health, safety, and nutrition • Relationships • Learning • Professionalism • Administration

20. Core Knowledge Area A: Growth and Development Knowledge of physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of youth.

21. Core Knowledge Area B:Health, Safety, and Nutrition • Ensures that professionals promote… • healthy eating • safe and active lifestyles • safe materials, facilities, and equipment • Knowledge of federal and state compliance regulations pertaining to working with youth.

22. Core Knowledge Area C:Relationships Builds respectful relationships with youth, families, and staff.

23. Core Knowledge Area D:Learning Creates a safe and enriching learning environment with an array of opportunities for learning.

24. Core Knowledge Area E:Professionalism Demonstrates professional and ethical conduct and a lifelong commitment to learning.

25. Core Knowledge Area F:Administration Implements a program in a manner that reflects research-based practices, a commitment to continuous quality improvement, sound financial practices, and visionary leadership.

26. Ways a Program Director Could Use the Core Competencies… • Assist in describing job skills of staff. • Promote professional growth. • Self-reflection • Staff evaluation • Specific levels of training/education for individual jobs.

27. Example: Assist in Describing Job Skills of Staff

28. Example: Promote Professional Growth

29. Example: Specific Levels of Training/education for Individual Jobs.

31. Brainstorming What are some ways that you could envision using the Nebraska School-Age and Youth Development Competencies in your program?

32. Questions about the Competencies

33. Contact Information Kim Larson 21st Century Community Learning Centers Coordinator of Professional Development kim.larson@nebraska.gov 402-471-4824

34. Additional Positive Youth Development Staff Training By: UNL Extension 4-H Youth Development Office For: Afterschool staff Topics covered: • Positive youth development (2 hours) • Youth as leaders (2 hours) • Youth as teachers (2 hours) • Service learning (2 hours) Cost: None Timeline: Training must be completed by May 31, 2010 Contact: Michelle Krehbiel UNL Extension 4-H Youth Development mkrehbiel2@unl.edu 402-472-9020