Not Going Away by Jessi Strinmoen, Director of Services Minnesota Youth Intervention Programs Association

I recently came across an article in the Harvard Family Research Project journal from the summer of 2004. In light of the current economy, this piece served as a timely reminder of why we continue to provide quality trainings despite massive cuts to professional development budgets in non-profits across Minnesota and the country. The article provides data from studies on out-of-school time staff and the impact of quality professional development on their work. The results could easily apply to youth intervention as well.

The article begins by defining the two-fold purpose of professional development. Everyone knows that professional development serves to teach providers about new information, models, techniques etc., but we often forget that it also often serves to, “improve the quality and sustainability of the … workforce.” How much staff turnover has your program experienced in the last year? Would a better-informed, more professional staff reduce this frustrating and disruptive trend?

Looking at our own practices and attitudes can be one of the most difficult things we do as youth service providers. Change is hard. Not to mention that many of us have been pushing our own needs aside for a long time. Why spend money on a conference, when we can use that money to add another child to our program? Well, this article shows the link between quality professional development and youth outcomes. A program with poorly trained staff, frequent turnover and no mechanisms for change may be able to serve lots of kids, but can’t produce results in the end.

The need for professional development training for non-profit staff is growing. The challenges that youth face are ever increasing – dealing with everything from “sexting” to homelessness, mental health issues to aggression, increasing gang involvement to families that are struggling to survive. With those challenges comes a call to the youth service providers of Minnesota and beyond to be ready to tackle these challenges head on. Providers need to be well versed in current youth culture, knowledgeable about resources available to them, and have access to information that will allow them to better serve youth and families.

As you and your organizations work to put together 2010 budgets, remember that staff play a critical role in enacting quality programming for youth and better program outcomes. An investment in professional development means stronger youth programs as both new staff and seasoned veterans continue improving their skills.

YIPA is continuing our commitment to provide high-quality, affordable professional development opportunities for all who work with youth. In 2010, we will seek ways to do that via collaboration, new ways to offset conference fees, and the opportunity for web-based learning. Because youth intervention is so integrated into the worlds of out of school time, mentoring, juvenile justice, education and other points of service for youth, we will work to bring the expertise and quality of YIPA to new audiences within those fields.

We want everyone to leave our trainings saying, “I get much more applicable information and better tools from YIPA conferences than all other conferences I attend each year!” as did one Rochester conference attendee. So, we welcome your input for professional development needs and would love to hear about the training needs in your communities. We look forward to releasing our 2010 calendar of conferences and trainings in the near future.

Full Harvard Family Research Project report.

The Importance and Effectiveness of Grass Roots Advocacy by Scott Beaty, Executive Director MN Youth Intervention Programs Association

As a trade association representing youth service organizations providing early intervention services to youth, YIPA provides the foundation for its member’s advocacy. The reasons associations work so well is because it is very difficult for one person to influence policy and funding decisions with state or federal governments. However, an association, with the support of its membership, can make a huge impact.

YIPA has a registered lobbyist (me) that leads our government relations efforts. It is important that a lobbyist understands the legislative process, closely follow what is going on regarding pertinent policy and funding legislation, and ascertain the potential and strategies for success.

However, the best lobbyists for any association are its membership. Through grassroots efforts by its members, associations can wield extra influence on the legislative process. These efforts don’t replace the daily work of the lobbyist, but enhance and compliment the overall government relations effort of the association. How is this done? It’s done by each and every member developing relationships with their elected officials, talking to them about the important issues they are concerned about, and asking for their support when the time is right. A lawmaker who hears about an issue directly from a constituent (who has the power to vote for them and influence others to vote for them) is more likely to give consideration to that person’s concerns.

Grassroots advocacy helps an association in three distinct ways. First, it amplifies the voice of the association in public policy matters, demonstrating to lawmakers that there is broad support or disagreement on a particular issue. Second, it provides and avenue for members to get involved in the association and gain value from the membership. Third, it creates an atmosphere that success can happen when everyone works together.

As you know, the State of MN is facing another budget deficit for the 2010/2011 biennium. Program cuts and unallotment is a sure bet. It’s possible that the Governor and/or lawmakers may target the Youth Intervention Program for further cuts or even elimination. This is why now is the time to get to know your State Senators and Representatives. Make sure they have a good understanding of the early intervention work you do. Invite them out to your site so they can see first hand the work you are doing to improve the lives of youth and the community. If you are currently receiving State Youth Intervention Program funding make sure they know how important it is to your organization and that it is also leveraging community dollars. If you aren’t receiving Youth Intervention funding let them know about your struggles to obtain funding and that a partnership between your organization, your community, and the State is the best approach to addressing the needs of youth who are just beginning to make poor choices in their lives.

Use all the tools you have to make your case. Use the Social Return on Investment (SROI) research document, show your outcomes, talk about your organizations desire to provide quality programming, and demonstrate how additional funding will help you succeed with the youth you serve.

The key to any grassroots advocacy effort is for the association members to develop working relationships with their lawmakers. If you are not already doing this, now is the time to start!

Quality: Once We Know It, We Can Grow It by Laura LaCroix-Dalluhn, Executive Director Youth Community Connections

YIPA is thrilled to have Laura LaCroix-Dalluhn, Executive Director of Youth Community Connections, come train YIPA’s members at our annual meeting on December 4^th!

Many of us have been hearing about quality assessment a great deal over the past several years. What does it mean to have a quality program for youth? How do you measure it? Quality measures have been studied and implemented in early childhood and out-of-school time settings with exciting results. We hope to bring these ideas and resources to the youth intervention community. Who better to share these exciting developments with youth intervention providers than Laura, a person who has been working for over three years with the University of Minnesota Center for Youth Development, the Minnesota Department of Education, Greater Twin Cities United Way and many, many others to develop a quality framework for youth services across Minnesota?

Laura says:

Quality is a dynamic process with multiple dimensions. Quality is not neutral, rather it influences the participation of young people, the satisfaction and retention of youth workers and the impact programs have on young people, families and the community. A Framework for Quality Non-formal Learning Opportunities and Youth Work Practice was created to define quality practice and to promote quality as the driver for systems level investment and support for non-formal learning experiences in the out-of-school time.

Learning Objectives:

· Learn about the framework for non-formal learning opportunities and quality youth work practice

· Understand the dynamic dimensions of quality

· Learn how programs influence quality

· Understand how systems level investments in quality impacts quality at the programmatic level

For more Information:

Check out Youth Community Connections!

The Quality Task Force White Paper