Strategies for Improving the Field of Youth Support

Youth support workers sit at the core of treatment and prevention science, extending both the structure for establishing helping connections and the means for escalating them to many youths. Thus, they are especially well-positioned to improve from the lessons and innovations from both fields. Treatment science provides the rationale and resources for developing effective ways to serve youth.

Prevention science administers a structure for the implementation, assessment, and dissemination of efficient programs across youth. And, to the extent that projects begin to think of volunteers as youth support workers and begin to tackle all that is admissible from treatment and prevention science, they will be better put to deliver adequate care.

Here are few tips for steady improvement and making amassing feedback from young people consequential:

Conducting Activity Goals to Youth Consistently

Generalised feedback can sometimes benefit us to accomplish program improvements. After all, when participants figure out the goals and purposes of program elements we can gather feedback that is notified and influenced by the outcomes we are working to reach. This informed feedback much more often leads to substantial program developments.

More Small-Group Work

We usually think we have to get feedback from each member if we need to display to the group that we care about their input. Yet, we generally then end up gathering feedback from members who do not actually care about or have fervour for that program element. If we can rather assemble a small group that is ardent about that element and ask them to make relevant resolutions about that program element, the rest of the members see that youth voice is driving meaningful change. This builds significantly more engagement than gathering feedback from everybody and sorting through everyone’s conclusions behind the scenes.

Regular Check-Ins and Wrap-Ups

Assure that members notice that they have an outlet to communicate their thoughts, feelings and concerns in a secure way. Administer a proper system for monitoring in with your members on the program. You can integrate reflection activities or openly ask a logical closing/opening question. If issues or concerns with the program come up, have a system for checking back in on that matter. Don’t let every impression direct your program, but don’t let issues go unaddressed, either.

Put Young Generation in Charge

Who said assessment had to be solely the responsibility of the youth support worker? Coming up with innovative ways to collect the opinions of their peers provides a leadership space for the young generation. It can also put them in a considerable position to drive the improvements the feedback reveals are required.

Mutual Accountability

If both participants and youth support workers feel accountable for the result of the program and keep each other accountable, both sides will feel constrained to look at program improvements. Establishing an ambience of mutual accountability takes work to empower, engage and perceive members. Youth and adults must both figure out their roles evidently. However, when you can bring about mutual accountability, the act of engaging people in change becomes a logical part of the package.