The Benefits of Youth Worker Training
The benefits of youth worker training are often lost when times get tough. Training is often the first thing to go when budget cuts are needed. This is true even in industries that have greater financial capital to work with than youth-serving programs.
But youth work leaders are faced with a no-win situation when budgets are tight. They must make the choice between offering less youth worker training or serving fewer young people. No one is blaming them!
It’s difficult to run a program and balance so many competing needs. Every day, youth work leaders struggle with the fact that funding for youth-serving programs is woefully inadequate.
But abandoning training for youth workers is harmful. It has long-lasting negative impacts for every aspect of a youth program. And that costs all of us.
- Live Online Training
- Wednesday, January 29, 2025
- 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm Central Time
- FREE for YIPA members
Professional development for youth workers impacts your organization’s culture
So, funding training for youth workers is a challenge. But it is always the best investment. Because youth worker training has so many positive outcomes.
Youth support worker training promotes a positive organizational culture by:
- Promoting the value of learning
- Encouraging personal and professional growth
- Giving team members the confidence that they are well-trained
- Creating a sense of commitment
- Instilling pride in your mission
In fact, youth worker training is at the core of every successful program.
- Individually and as a team, youth workers are prepared to change lives
- Young people supported by highly trained and motivated team members will experience measurable positive outcomes
- A strong team and more positive outcomes help programs secure funding to support more young people
Youth worker training reduces expenses
Affordable training for working with youth is vital
Outstanding leaders in youth work want to recruit and retain the best team members possible. They see professional development as an organizational priority. It’s not a perk or an afterthought to them.
It’s not easy to solve the problem of tight budgets. But the need for well-trained and motivated staff is so important. As a result, youth work leaders must find exceptional training with a minimal cost. And that helps programs achieve their mission.
The Professional Youth Worker, powered by YIPA, makes youth worker training affordable for you. And the Youth Intervention Programs Association (YIPA) makes it easy for you too. We’ve removed three big barriers. Now, professional development for youth workers is an easy choice.
- Cost barriers: Associate membership is only $300 annually for all staff, volunteers, and even board members
- Time barriers: Our Live Online trainings are recorded and placed in our On-Demand library so youth workers can learn when it fits their schedule, not ours
- Geographical barriers: With YIPA’s Live Online and On-Demand Trainings, no need to travel
YIPA is a non-profit organization. Our mission is to deliver affordable and accessible youth worker training to anyone who works with young people. We know that when all youth workers are highly skilled, program outcomes across the country will improve. And those widespread positive outcomes will fundamentally change the level of social and financial support for all types of youth-serving organizations.
Check out the large and diverse YIPA community. If you’re not a member yet, what are you waiting for? Join us today!
About the author
Paul Meunier is the executive director of the Youth Intervention Programs Association (YIPA), a non-profit association of youth-serving organizations. We're your source for exceptional, affordable, personal and professional online learning via The Professional Youth Worker. Join us!
To ask Paul a question or share your feedback about this blog, email paul@yipa.org.
