ERIC ED414273: Credentialing Activities in the Youth Development Field, 1997.

36 Pages·1997·1.6 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
SP 037 677
ED 414 273
Credentialing Activities in the Youth Development Field,
TITLE
1997
National Collaboration for Youth, Washington, DC.
INSTITUTION
DeWitt Wallace/Reader's Digest Fund, Pleasantville, NY.
SPONS AGENCY
1997-00-00
PUB DATE
NOTE
35p.
National Collaboration for Youth, 1319 F Street, N.W., Suite
AVAILABLE FROM
601, Washington, DC 20004.
Directories/Catalogs (132)
Reference Materials
-- Reports
PUB TYPE
- Descriptive (141)
MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
Adolescents; After School Programs; *Certification; Child
DESCRIPTORS
Caregivers; Community Organizations; Credentials; Elementary
Secondary Education; Federal Legislation; Higher Education;
Inservice Teacher Education; Leadership Qualities;
*Leadership Training; Professional Development; State
Legislation; *Youth Leaders; *Youth Programs
ABSTRACT
This report describes credentialing activities that seek to
establish standards and promote professional development in the youth
development field. Part 1, Federal and State Legislative Activities, focuses
on: legislation promoting youth development activities and programs; welfare
reform and the need for youth development and after-school programs; criminal
background checks and screening of youth service providers to prevent child
abuse; and legislation to promote recognition and reporting of child abuse.
Part 2, Selected Credentialing Activities for Youth Workers (which comprises
the bulk of the report), presents examples from agencies nationwide. Each
entry includes agency name, address, telephone number, contact person and a
brief summary of the agency's programs. The overall portrait of credentialing
activities indicates that youth work education, training, and credentialing
efforts are fragmented, lack a coherent vision, and vary widely in their
utilization. There is great variation in the quality of content, expertise,
and instructional approaches among staff development efforts. Two appendixes
present definitions of credentialing and specification of core competencies
for youth workers and school-age care.
(SM)
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Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Educational Research and Improvement
PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS
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BEEN GRANTED BY
This document has been reproduced as
received from the person or organization
originating it.
NATIONAL
Minor changes have been made to
improve reproduction quality.
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Points of view or opinions stated in this
COLLABORATION
document do not necessarily represent
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)
official OERI position or policy.
1
FOR YOUTH
affinity group of the
An
National Assembly of National Voluntary Health
and Social Welfare Organizations
1131FST COPT MAREABILIZ
ational. CollaboratiOn for Youth
an affinity group of The Natianal Assembly
-
of National ,Voluntary Health and. Social Welfare. Organizdtions
1319 F :Street NW, Suite 601 ,c
--
WashingtonDC 20004
Phone:_(202)347-2080
- Fax:
(202)\393 -4517.
WWW.nassembly.org
National Collaboration for Youth
The National Collaboration for Youth is an affinity group of the National Assembly-of National
Voluntary Health and SOcial Welfare Organizations. These leading youth developnient organizations
work together to provide a united voice as advocate's for youth, toimproye conditions of young peOple in
America, and to help,young people reach their full potential.
Members .of the National
for YoUth-
Collaboration.
American Red Cross
Associatioh,ofJunior Leagues International
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America--
Boy Scouts of America
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Camp Fire Boys and2Girls
Child Welfare League of America'
-Civil Air Patrol
Families, 441 &Nutrition
Girl Scouts of the USA
GirlS Incorporated
'Hosteling Intemational/American Youth Hostels
Joint Action in Community Service
National Association of Homes 'and Services
National Network-for Youth
One-to7One/National Mentoring Partnership
The Salvation Army
Volunteers of America
WAVE, Inc.
,
Women in Community Service
YMCA' of the USA
YWCA of theUSA
DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund
This report is made possible by a grant from the DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund. The
Mission of the Fund is to foster fundamental improvement, in the qualityof education and career
development opportunities for all school=age youth, and to increase access to these improved services for
.
young people in low-ineorhe communities.
AcknOwledgmentS
This/report Was written and developed under the direction of kim Pawley Helfgott; Director,
Human Resource DevelopMent at the National Assembly of National Voluntary Hea th and Social Welfare
legislation and
Organizations. Ray Donohue, intern, conducted much of the research to, identify:
recent eredentialing and professional develOpirient activities throukhoUt the. United States.
© August 1997 The National Assembly of National Voluntary Health and Social Welfare Organizations
Contents
_Introduction
Federal and State Legislative Activities
Legislation Promoting Youth Development AcOities and Progranis
Welfare Reform and the Need for Youth DeN;elopment and: After- School Activities
criniinal Background Checks and Screening Youth -Service firoviderS to Prevent Child
Legislation to. Promote Recognitions and Reporting of Child Abuse
_
Seleeted Credentialing Activities For YoUth Workers
American_Humanics - Certification inYoutli and Human Service
Nonprofit Management
Chicago Youth Agency-Partnership
.
.
Group Work: Youth-Services programming'ind Management - George,
Williams; College of Aurora UniVersity and NeW_College
s
Child and Youth Care Learning Center -UniverSity of Wisconsin at Milwaukee
Girl Scouts of theUSA c- Certified Girl ScoutExecinie ire-et-Or
-
,
National Alliance for Direct Service Workers' -
Accreditation-
National School7Age Care Alliance 7 NationanniprOVeMent and
'
SYStem (NIAS)
, ,
,
National Training Institiite for Community YOtith Work - Building _
13
Exerhplary Systems of Traininglor youth Workers (BEST),.
14
Kansas City. BEST site YouthNet
-
_
15','
Milwaukee BEST site}- Child and Youth Care Learning Center. -
5
-
'Newyork BEST site - Networks for Youth bevelopMent
`j
Philadelphia: BEST site - Children, Youth and Family-Council
15 --
,
16,.
Pinellas COunty2BEST site - Juvenile Welfare Board
-
Portland. BEST site - -Youth Service Consortium
---
,
17
San Francisco BEST site - Community NetWOrkS for Youth Development
'
,17
Neiworks for Youth Development - Youth bevelOpMent Institute
Tli-
School-Age Care Programs - Concordia University, St: Paul ,
-
,
_
.
Project,- Making the Most ofOutof School Time (MOST)
19
School-Age Child.
Boston MOST site and Child Care Career Institut&
-.Chicago MOST_site and Harold .Washington College
"Seattle Central. Communify. College,
Seattle MOST site
,
;23
U. S ArMY Credential for SchoOl-AgeServices
a-
24
YMCA of the USA :Keeping Our promise
Youth Deielopment Leadership Program-- University of Minnesota
Appendices
,"
,
Definitions of Credentialing
Appendix-A.
,
Core Competencies fOr Youth Workers and School -Age Care
Appendix B.
Crederitialing Activitlei in, the Youth Develbpmen Field
Introduciion
'
-
over the past 1996-1997 year than at any other.
This 'report describes credentialing
There-is much to be leamedfroni these
time.
activities whicliseekto eStablish'standardS and
,
diverse efforts.
promote professional development ofthe yOuth
development field. By creating standards
Also tracked through 1996-1991 were
agencies can better ensure the quality of services
-federarand state,legislative activities to aCcredit,_
-delivered to,young People. Research has
certify, liCense and/or develoP standards and best
consistently concluded that youth workers who
practices for youth workers, other related
.participated in professional development
professionalS, and organizations that serve
activities demonstrated improved staff-youth'
efforts to
-young peOple:3 Aside from legislatiVe
interactions, quality of care, and youth
prevent child abuse by service providers and
outcomes.
prbvide training to increase identification and
reporting:of child abuse, there was relatively"
For the purpose of this report, youth
little interest on the part of policy makers in
work and youth development work is defined as
enhancing the qualifications and credentials of
"focusing on the development of personal,
profeSsionals and volunteers working with
'social, and citizenship competeneies;and the
youth. Given this, voluntary credentialing
development of youths' connections and
activities concluded b}r_individual organizations
Commitments :to, individuals, fami13% and
Will be "even more iniportant.,
Defined as such, the youth
community:
,
develOpthent field potentially encompasses-a
Credentialing,is one way to recognize
Wide range Of settings, titles, and fUnctions
eMployees whb have the attitudes, training-
including school-age care, child and youth care;
. _
experience, and competenCies needed to -do their
youth work, and community- support work.
jobs. --(See Appendix A for a definition of
-
credentialing). To develop a credential, critical:
The comMonly shared goat of youth
-
core competencies must be identified as
development work is to facilitate healthy-
fouridation for ensuring that youth workers have,
development during Middle childhood and
the quantity and quality of education and
adolescence by:proyiding opportunitiesto
training needed in various types of ybuth
participate in a productive and - positive'
-
_
development Settings. Unlike Canada and
environment during the out-of-school hours.
.
Northwestern Europe, the U.S. currently lacks an
Community -based youth development
education and training system specially geared
organizations serve as "crucial suppOrts foryourig
-toward credentialing youth workers. In the
people by-prOviding them-With caring
absehce of legally-mandated or universally,,
relationships-with adults, activities through
recognizedstandards; youth worker, edncation
which they can_express their creativity and build
and training in the U.S. is haphazard and at times
skills; and opportunities to make contributions to
ineffectual., Most education occursthough on-
theirpeers and communities.
the-job experience and sporadic in-:serVice
training and.seminars.
Selected, individuals; organizations;
and universities that are' working
associations;
In, an effort to address this gap,,
toward professionalizing the yoUth deVelopthent
,
-.professional development activities are occurring
field are identified in this report
ith Fietailed
w_
in many areas. Competencies have
contact information to encourage networking.
-
simultaneously been identified by different
NetWorking is particularly critical since there
organizations and groups,as a basis. for
have,been more credentialing activities recorded
,
:
Crede,niiczling ;ACtivities in the -Youth Developinent Field
developing professional develdprhent activities.
-
Systems for training have been develop'ed and
higher education has become more involved in
delivering course work and/or degree programs.
However, the portrait of credentialing activities
that emerged as information for this report was,
collected is consistent with the observations of
others
Youth work"education, training and
credentialing efforts are fragmented, lacking a
coherent vision and widely varying in their
utiliiation.' 'There is great variation in the quality
of content, expertise, and instructional
apprdaches among staff development efforts:
It
is becoming more apparent by the field as a'
wholes that alitheseinitiatives-could benefit from-
'exPloring commonalities and establishing
mutual goals.'
,
In fact, there have been some initial
efforts in,the youth development field to develop
consensus and common definitions. for yOuth
worker competencie§ and y-outhotitcomes, as
Well as systematic approaches for:
'-
operationalizirig principles of practice. By
joining forbes, duplication of efforts could be
reduced and gaps jointly addressed.
Furthermore, coming together as a united voice
would bring greater attention on the importance
r
of quality service delivery in enhancing the
-,
positNe development of young people.
Pi-ofessiOnalizing the youth develoPment field
could enhance status, Professional recognition,
and public' awareness. about the, expertise
required to ddthis work.
This report does not attempt'to provide
any coMparative analysis or analyze the pros and
cons of the Credentialing and staff development
activities described. Instead this report
identifies some of the key professional
developrnent and credentialing activities in order-
to encourage networking, and potentially
collaboration and partnership,' among those
leading the way.
Credentialing Activities 'in the youth,DeVelopment Field
Federal and StateIegislative Activities
in public housing-projects and distreSsed
Legislation Promoting:Youth Development
areas:
Activities and PrOgrains
,
.Only a few states have made any,effort .
Despite, isolated legislation promoting
to address-the quality of youth development
--youthdevelopMent, the political eliMate fOr
services by prOposingiccreditatiOn and liceniing
fUnding and Stipportingouth services has been
'Of programs: These include:
,less hospitable than it has been in many years.`'
The growing emphasis on incarceration of'
Georgia (HB11-00) proposed a bill to,-
juvenilepfferiders; sratherthan.prevention of
provide for the certificationand
'youth crime is an example. of Shiftingpriorities.
-regulationOf youth camps.:,(
Public attention and political, eniphasis
Hawaii (513789) established a child care
personal responsibility and employment have
provider boardto liCense and regulate
'overshadOWed efforts to meet the fiill range of
persons providing child care in child
''deVelopmental needS of youngpeople.
,
care facilities,,Summer programs or
after-school Prograins.
afeW federal legiSlative activities
Mississippi proposed'the revision of
during:the ,1997year stand out in their effort to
'licenStire statutes and fees for child and:,
support increased-access to and recognition .of:
_
residential' homes; and youthcamps.-'
the benefitSof YoUth develOpmerit opportunities:.
New York (A7687.) established
They include the following:::-/
qualifications and procedures for
certification a. sa child care provider.
Mobilize Aniericd's COmmimities for
New York (S3491) also directed the-_
,Youth Aciof 1997 (MACY)6 is
DepartMent toestabliSh uniform-
legislation'. drafted that-is intended to
standards'proficiency.iri the knowledge,
giye Young people.access to, youth
'skill's, duties; and responsibilities-of
development prograniS that foster
-
,
Child PrdteCtive triVestigatOrS.
positcvelyalues, life skills, and self
,
esteem.'
Welfare Reform and the'Need.fiir Youth
National. Character. Coitrits:Weelc'
Development and After;SchObl Programs
(SReS63), was proclaimed for the: week'
,
'Of October 19 thrOugh Odtober 25;4997.
The passage of welfareieform
Children's National Security Act
,
legislation= (The Personal Responsibility and
(HR1726) was introduced as a billto
Work Opportunity Reconciliation .Act of 1996)
establish, as an element_of natibnal,--
eliniinated the federal gUararitee of cash-
security, the importance of providing
aSsistance(Aid, to Familial With Pependent
health, safety,-and edudation oldhildren
Children -AFDC)to the,cotintiy's poorest
in the United States.
,
-children. States are provided with a new block
After Schbol- Education and Safety Act of
grant known asstlie Temporari-AsSiStance for
1997'(S882) was introduced as 'a billto,
NeadiFainilieS (TANF)., ThislegiSlation
,1 improve aCademic and social outcomes
-
setting
provides states, with broad, powers.
for studentS by prOviding activities
eligibility and payment standards for family
'during the after-schoot hours.
-
assistance and supportive' erViceS,,inclUding
EstabliShmerit of 2,500 Boys &Girls"
child care and School-age care: Although
Clubs:(HR.1'753 and S476)hythe year
money is allocated for child care' for. working
2000,, with particular emphasis on clubs
,
.
,
Yolith Development Field
credentialingActivitie§
Criminal Background Checks and Screening
parents, states are not required to Pay for'
of Youth Service ProViders to Prevent Child
children six years or older. With limited
-
Abuse
resources and greater need, states will have to
make tough-decisions about priorities: As a
The lyationalphild Protection Act of
result, it is expected that the need for school-age
1993 (HR1237 and amended versions in the
child care and positive youth development
-
Crime Bill of 1994) was established to screen
opportunities will increase dramatically as a
-
child and youth workers and "minimize the riSk
result of shrinking resources.'
of inadvertently placing-persons in Care-giving
situations who havebeen convicted of crimes
In an effort to create access to more
that bear upon their fitness to'have responsibility
child care and school-age care services, several
.
for the' safety' and well-being of children, the
states have initiated training programs to train
elderly.; and persons with disabilities." The
welfare recipients to provide child care.
'federal law; which relies on criminal .background
fingerprint checks as a principle tool of
Florida (SB1966) created the "ASCENT
protection, depends on state laws for ,
Project" to train participants in the
implementation.- The law authorizes youth
WAGES Program for careers as 'child
serving programs which provide "child care" to
care providers.
request checks, but does not mandate them. .The
Minois (SB388) directed the Department
bill has important implications to the youth
Of Public Aid and the Department of
development field as child care is defined quite
HuMan Services to establish a Neighbor-
broadly as "the provision of care,
to-Neighbor Child Care Training and
eduaation, training, instruction, supervision or
EducatiOn Pilot Program to train and
recreation to children by personnel having
educate public aid recipients for jobs in
unsupervised access to the child."
child care.
-
Texas established child-care training
Since each state has considerable
centers for certain recipients' of pUblic
discretion in implementing federal law, state
assistance.
prOposals arelikely to differ, widely in approach.
Illinois_(SI3386),made a $250,006
To address this issue, the National Collaboration
appropriation to the Department of
for Youth developed principles for states that are
Human Services 'for grants to pilot:
implementing the National Child Protection
agencies to imPlement the Neighbor-to-
,
Act.9 -The National Collaboration for Youth also
Neighbor Child Care and Education pilot
_prodUced publications to guide an organization's
program.
efforts to screen volunteers .in addition to
conducting criminal history background
However, key advocacy groups have
checks.'°
expressed their concern about the impact of these
efforts on the quality of servicesprovided.8 A
Most states have introduced or enacted
basic, premise missing is the need to ensure that
laws regarding criminal background cheaks for
those who enter the field have chosen to do so
employees and volunteers who have regular and
and are able to demonstrate an aptitude for the
substantial contact with children and are
work. As welfare reform proposals increasingly
employed in a child care capacity or in the
focus' on cost-cutting measures and deregulation
provision Of recreation and support services for
in child care, it becomes increasingly necessary
young people. The following list provides
for
child care field to articulate 'sound
-
examples of the type of legislation being
principles for'fraining and ernployment.
proposed by states during the 199&1997 year:
Credentialing Activities in the Youth Development Field
9
Virginia (1-1132359) provided thaffor any
Arkaizsas (HB1017) added to
list Of
potential employeeor Volunteer that will",
criminal offenses which are grounds for
be involved. with minors in: a sports-
' denying,child.care license or
related' activity, the spOnsoring,
emPlOYment by a licensed child-care
organization may require that the
-
"Departnient.ofState Police certify that
Florida (SB2186) authorized certain
certain
`theapOlicant has,not been convicted of
institutions and organizations that
Certain criines,"including child ibuse,;,','
provide services to children.tO require
,
sexual Molestation; or child rape:
prospective volunteerS or employees to
Washington (11B 1946) provided that
undergo. a- background theck;-Which may
businesses and 'organizations-providing
include a check of fingerprint re-Cords.
'services to children must, have adequate
The bill alSo provides. that a prospective,
information about employees; r 1
volunteer' or emploYee may be requited
licensees. The bill;allOWs the
to attend atraining program; Florida also-1
Washington State patrol identification
require a baCkground screening of
Systein tO,disclose`ansapplicants record
Unregtilated child care-givers receiving
_
for :convictions against2Children or other
subsidies through subsidized child: Cate
prograins.
persons'
_
Hawaii (SB792 and SB7) developed,
standards for Criminal histOrY checks,to,
:Legislation to' Promote Recognition-and,
assure the reputable and-responsible
Reporting of Child Abase,
character of an applicant:
Missouri (HB718) required the
Legislation has&been proposed to
Department of Health tO establish, and
provide incentives for and improve the: training
Maintain a "Child Care Alert System"
of professionals Who'deal with children and:.
the public with
which
youth recognize and report child abuse- While -..
inforination about potential child care
the focus of training is narrow, it does show
providers inCluding any histOry of child
recognition Ofthe connection between training::
abuse or neglect.2
staff and protection of young peOple.
-
,
Neu', Mexicb (HB278) proVided that
certain criminal offenders not be
The Doinestic ,ViOlence Identification
:licensed to' operate a child carefacility
,and Referral ActOf 1997 (S101 and-
or be' employed at a child'cire
HR8S4) were propoSed to train health
New York proposed several measures for
professionals to identify:victims of
`-,"ptOper background checks'. A5607-
,,domestic.violence and child abuse.:-
- authorized the denial or revocation of
Federallunding preference to:medical
-child day care license if licen§ee or
schbols encourages medical school's to
employee has,a;criniinal conviction
,,prOvide training`toideritify domestic
=,
record, 52726': iequired a criminal
violence:
c.
history and child abuse records search as
Arkansas (HB1953)Trciposecl the
,a condition of teacher Certification.
revocation or suspension' f professional,
Rhode Island (SB476)-requited
licenses for_false riotification'of child
'backgeound cheCks for certification of
.abuse or failureto report child abuse.-
child-tare and recreation camp
ArtiOng the professionals'required to
personnel.'
properly and accurately report cases of
,,child abuse were cOunselors, 'Social
workers, and psychological examiners.
Credentialing Activities in the Youth Developrhent Field )-