Join the Youth Intervention Community! by Chris Klejbuk, Membership Coordinator Minnesota Youth Intervention Programs Association

As I look back at past contributors to this blog, I can see that they all share a passion for youth work combined with new ideas and years of experience. They also share a connection to Minnesota Youth Intervention Programs Association (YIPA). Whether as guest speakers, staff or members, these contributors are part of YIPA’s youth intervention community here in Minnesota. This community is growing, but we will continue to grow until ALL youth in Minnesota have access to the services they need. We will continue to grow until youth intervention providers across the state are deeply connected through advocacy, collaboration and professional development.

I’d like to take a moment to talk about YIPA – what we have been working

on, where we are going and how you can begin building the future of youth intervention with us. Check out the list of links on the right column of this blog:most of these organizations are YIPA members. There is no reason for a youth intervention provider in Minnesota to feel isolated!

YIPA Projects

Last year, YIPA launched our first-ever statewide initiative to increase awareness, support and use of early intervention programs: KidsChange. I hope that you have checked out this website (www.KidsChange.org). This is the start of raising the visibility of youth intervention programs in your community. The KidsChange website is a resource to be used by everyone (teachers, police, social workers, parents) concerned about youth who are just starting to make poor choices in their lives. YIPA’s KidsChange initiative is a recognition that kids, in fact, DO CHANGE – sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. YIPA members are there as a community resource to help kids change for the better.

In 2010, YIPA will continue to advocate for the Youth Intervention Program funding and offer high-quality professional development trainings to youth service professionals throughout Minnesota and beyond. We will host regional trainings in Rochester, Duluth, Moorhead and St. Cloud, as well as full and half-day trainings in the Twin Cities metro area. YIPA is also working to offer several collaborative events, working closely with other organizations to share resources and reach greater audiences through both direct and online delivery. Reminders about these events will come up here and on our website, so consider getting blog posts sent to your email!

YIPA Membership

Becoming a YIPA member is simple at from our membership page. Being a YIPA member means being a part of the youth intervention community in Minnesota. According to our members, one of the best parts of YIPA membership is having a full-time advocate for youth intervention programs. Read more about this from Scott Beaty, YIPA’s executive director, lobbyist and constant advocate for Youth Intervention Program grants in his post, “The Importance of Grassroots Lobbying.” YIPA also provides significant membership reductions for our trainings for every member of your organization! In addition to the information posted on this blog, we have member-only material that comes in two e-newsletters a month on topics of interest to youth services professionals. This material includes legislative updates, grant opportunities and networking between youth intervention providers. Want to learn more? Check out a membership meeting? Contact Chris at cklejbuk@tcq.net.

Already a Member?

What do you think about being a member of YIPA? How has it impacted your youth intervention program? Do you come back each year for the advocacy, the community, or the annual holiday raffle? Share a comment with us!