Art & Science of Youth Work

Youth workers are awesome! In an era when too many people are focused on themselves and their own selfish interests, we need to look to youth workers as a group...

Youth work associations are powerful and I’ve come to the understanding that who you associate with really does matter, especially if you want to create change. When you associate with...

Adolescence is a developmental stage everyone must navigate before entering adulthood. It can be an awkward and challenging time for some. Many of us may want to forget about the...

Conflict resolution skills are essential for every youth worker. Youth work is about human relationships and, being human, we are certain to find ourselves in conflict with the young people...

Ethical dilemmas in youth work happen all the time and they often go unrecognized. These situations can be so subtle that you may react without consideration to the origins of...

Digital well-being is becoming more important each day. Young people use the internet for everything. Connecting with friends on social media, playing games, watching videos, even attending virtual classes. Being...

As a youth worker and now as executive director of YIPA, I have met many great youth workers. I have often wondered how these folks became great. Why are some...

Quality youth work requires that we build and sustain a passion for serving young people. The need for technical training such as mental health basics, trauma informed care, and the...