Positively developing youth requires specialized capabilities that many educators, mentors, and professionals lack without proper training. Without core competencies in building assets, identifying strengths, and nurturing potential, young people may fail to thrive. This course provides immersive education in positive youth development frameworks and best practices.
Mastering positive youth development delivers compelling benefits:
- Recognize and nurture strengths, interests, and abilities in youth
- Build developmental assets and protective factors
- Empower youth voice, leadership, and decision-making
- Foster identity formation and sense of purpose
- Restore and heal from trauma and challenges
- Gain expertise to advance youth outcomes and equity
- Strengthen family and community systems of support
With practical application-focused training, this course equips professionals with strategies to cultivate thriving young people and environments. The skills are invaluable for educators, mentors, counselors, and all roles supporting youth success.
Course Overview
This intensive course delivers hands-on training in positive youth development approaches, tools, and techniques. Through interactive lessons and role-playing, learners gain expertise in asset-building, trauma-informed care, youth-adult partnership, identity-formation, and more.
With a focus on practical application, the experiential curriculum provides opportunities to practice skills through group discussions, self-reflections, and scenario-based activities. Core modules align with research-based developmental frameworks.
The course equips learners with toolkits and resources to assess needs, nurture potential, and address barriers. Participants gain skills for family and community engagement. By the conclusion of the course, learners can confidently apply people-centered positive youth development principles in their work.
Who Should Take This Course
Educators, social workers, counselors, mentors, community leaders, and other professionals supporting youth success, equity, and wellbeing.
What You’ll Learn
- Positive youth development concepts and frameworks
- Protective factors and developmental asset-building
- Strengths-based approaches to nurture youth
- Trauma-informed care and healing practices
- Fostering youth identity, purpose, and future planning
- Youth-adult partnership and youth empowerment
- Cultural competency and equity considerations
- Family and community systems engagement
Course Content
Foundations of Positive Youth Development
- Evolution of youth development approaches
- Core PYD concepts, frameworks, and research
- Benefits of strengths-based vs deficit lens
- Linking PYD to child development stages
Developmental Assets and Protective Factors
- Categorizing external and internal assets
- Assessment tools to identify asset gaps
- Building developmental relationships and opportunities
- Developing social, emotional, and cognitive skills
Trauma-Informed Care
- Types of trauma and toxic stress
- Impacts on brain development and behaviors
- Healing practices for regulation and processing
- Creating physically and psychologically safe spaces
Youth-Adult Partnership
- Foundations of authentic relationship building
- Providing unconditional positive regard
- Co-designing programs with youth
- Shared decision-making and leadership
Supporting Identity and Future Planning
- Identity formation and sense of self
- Envisioning future possibilities
- Setting goals and outlining plans
- Accessing networks and educational mentors
Cultural Competency and Equity
- Exploring personal culture, biases, privilege
- Learning about community cultures
- Adapting approaches for identities
- Removing systemic access barriers
Engaging Families and Communities
- Identifying support systems and resources
- Building collaborative partnerships
- Effective family communication
- Setting boundaries and addressing challenges
Frequently Asked Questions
What experience level is this course geared for?
It’s designed for professionals of all levels looking to gain or improve PYD skills.
What is the format and duration?
Delivered via 3, 5 or 10 day intensive live online or in-person training customized to needs.
What materials or supplies are provided?
We provide digital toolkits and activities to engage learners.
Is PYD certification included?
Yes, learners will earn a certification after meeting objectives.
Is group enrollment available?
Yes, discounted rates are available for teams.
Is pre-work required prior to the course?
No pre-work is required, but learners should review provided prep materials.
How is the course regularly updated?
We update content annually to reflect the latest PYD research and best practices.