Utilizing an Internship Program to Increase Quality, Impact, and Sustainability of Youth Programs

1. Utilizing an Internship Program to Increase Quality, Impact, and Sustainability of Youth Programs Jessica Russo Erica Gates Urban Youth Development Office University of Minnesota

2. Objectives • Understand internship program as a benefit to quality, impact, and sustainability • Learn components of successful internship program • Discover tools and strategies for implementation

3. Urban Youth Learn Partnering with communities to develop effective youth programs Urban 4-H Youth Development Program Model • Flow • Sustainability • Build Partnerships • Build Internship Program • Build Volunteer Program • Curricula • Evaluation

4. 70/30 Delivery/Development 90/10 Development/Delivery Staff Plan Shift Go

5. Building an Internship Program

6. Needs Assessment • Funding Cuts • Transition from Delivery to Program Development • Partners asking for low-cost, part-time program deliverers • System of support and training for staff

7. Benefits for Partners • Low-cost deliverers • Recruitment of Staff • Training • Additional support and supervision • Quality program with educational plans

8. Benefits for Interns • “There are so many positive things I could say to describe my internship experience. I went into it expecting to help youth learn and grow, but somewhere along the way I ended up growing too.” • “I thought the internship really prepared me well to become experienced in what it was like to work with a diverse group of youth. It was definitely worth working with the kids, seeing their challenges, helping them deal with those challenges, and preparing them for a successful future.” • “I felt that this was a good experience for me. It helped me to become more confident while working with youth. I’ve learned new behavioral management skills and was exposed to many different activities that I had never thought of before. I felt like a significant part of the team and not just a back up.”

9. Benefits for Us • Impact • in number of youth and adults reached • in number of partnerships • Training and growth for new youth workers • Quality • Connection to 4-H and sense of belonging • Imbedded youth development philosophies and educational curricula • Increased planning time • Sustainability • Visibility of 4-H • Lower cost • System for youth to stay connected to 4-H program • Base of volunteers

10. Director 1 FTE Manager NYL Minneapolis St. Paul 1 FTE Educator Ramsey 1 FTE Educator Hennepin 1 FTE Manager Minneapolis St. Paul Afterschool 1 FTE Program Coordinator St. Paul 1 FTE Program Coordinator Hennepin 1 FTE Program Coordinator Hennepin 1 FTE Positions that are not filled University Interns 30 part-time/temporary employees Afterschool Teaching and Program Staff Members 21 part-time/temporary employees Position currently filled by temporary staff. This position is not filled permanently. Urban Youth Development Office Staff Plan

11. Successful Internship Program • Focus • Strong partnerships • System of support

12. Focus on Youth

13. 5. Apply Do Apply Reflect Support Built on Experiential Learning 1. Experience 2. Share 4.Generalize 3. Process

14. REFLECTION and MAKING CONNECTIONS

15. Strong Partnerships • Commitment • Safety • Quality • Presence

16. Our system of support • Training • Communication • Goal-setting • Review

17. Lessons Learned • It’s a process! • Connecting to University/College departments • Setting clear expectations • Continually adapting

18. Contact information Jessica Russo, Associate Extension Professor 612.624.7625; pier0239@umn.edu Erica Gates, Program Coordinator 612.624.7625; gates015@umn.edu Urban 4-H Youth Development 495 Coffey Hall 1420 Eckles Avenue St. Paul, MN 55108