For 25+ years, our Training of Trainers (TOT) workshops have provided an immersive and impactful professional development experience. The Youth Work Methods and Youth Work Management TOT workshops equip leaders with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to effectively train those working with young people across diverse ecosystems. With a toolbox of proven and teachable practices that seamlessly integrate into daily interactions with youth, participants are prepared to create a ripple effect that elevates the entire field of youth work.

Discover how Positive Youth Development (PYD) powers leadership, self-confidence, and strong relationships, leading to improved health, education, and job prospects. While widely embraced, PYD lacks a federal definition, causing inequities in outcomes across programs and states. Explore 4 states that define PYD and their common elements in this blog.

Youth-serving systems frequently operate in silos, failing to recognize they are serving the same youth in a disjointed, inefficient and ineffective manner. More collaboration across systems is key to creating an ecosystem approach to positive youth development. Experience and practice have shown there are five key components of successful cross-system collaboration. Read on to learn more.

Afterschool programs can unlock doors to new experiences, opportunities, and even unexpected career journeys.

Highlighting the importance of celebrating Lights on Afterschool every year, a Forum staff member recounts her experience in her own afterschool program and how that led to a career in youth development.

The heart of a positive youth development approach is to ensure that young people are safe and supported to learn and to lead. Yet, genuine youth leadership in youth-serving systems and organizations is not nearly as common as it needs to be for youth-serving fields to realize their potential. One recent bright spot, highlighting the process and the power of supporting youth leadership was the recent study, From Access to Equity: Making Out-of-School Time Spaces Meaningful for Teens From Marginalized Communities, supported by The Wallace Foundation.

The youth-serving fields are made up of complex and dynamic relationships within and across systems. To create truly equitable opportunities for young people, leaders and systems need to collaborate to provide quality support, forming a multi-dimensional Youth Development Ecosystem.

This new graphic illustrates how supportive relationships and cross-system coordination are key to young people achieving their highest potential in education, work, and life.