U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Training the "Wizards": A Model for Building Self Efficacy and Peer Networks Among Urban Youth Workers

NCJ Number
236635
Journal
Child & Youth Services Volume: 32 Issue: 3 Dated: July-September 2011 Pages: 200-223
Author(s)
Laurie Ross; Suzanne Buglione; Jennifer Safford-Farquharson
Date Published
September 2011
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This article explores the professional development of youth workers.
Abstract
This article presents a community's efforts to address the professional development needs of frontline youth workers. A coalition designed a 13-week Youth Worker Training Institute to increase youth workers' knowledge, skills, self-efficacy, and professional networks. After the Institute, participants reported feeling more skillful, connected to other youth workers, confident, professional, reflective, and being more powerful change agents. Based on results from this formative evaluation, the authors suggest that it was multiple teaching and learning strategies that promoted reflection, peer learning, and networkingthat contributed to youth workers gaining knowledge and skills that in turn increased their confidence and sense of self-efficacy. (Published Abstract)