TY - JOUR
T1 - Improving Community-Based Youth Work
T2 - Evaluation of an Action Research Approach
AU - VeLure Roholt, Ross
AU - Rana, Sheetal
PY - 2011/10
Y1 - 2011/10
N2 - Few formal post-secondary educational programs in the United States focus on youth work, thus youth workers often enter the field with diverse backgrounds and varying levels of experience working with youth. Drawing on mounting evidence that quality youth service requires skilled staff, professional-development opportunities have received increasing support by agencies and funders. Typically, youth work professional development supports propositional (theory) knowledge learning to develop a more skilled workforce. This article describes an approach to youth work professional development that supports professional-craft knowledge learning (practice wisdom). Based on action research methodology, the approach has been developed over the last three years with groups of youth workers in a public organization. Using program evaluation data over the last two years and university-facilitator reflections, the authors describe what have been found to be the critical components of this approach. Also discussed are implications of using such an approach in day-to-day youth work practice.
AB - Few formal post-secondary educational programs in the United States focus on youth work, thus youth workers often enter the field with diverse backgrounds and varying levels of experience working with youth. Drawing on mounting evidence that quality youth service requires skilled staff, professional-development opportunities have received increasing support by agencies and funders. Typically, youth work professional development supports propositional (theory) knowledge learning to develop a more skilled workforce. This article describes an approach to youth work professional development that supports professional-craft knowledge learning (practice wisdom). Based on action research methodology, the approach has been developed over the last three years with groups of youth workers in a public organization. Using program evaluation data over the last two years and university-facilitator reflections, the authors describe what have been found to be the critical components of this approach. Also discussed are implications of using such an approach in day-to-day youth work practice.
KW - action research
KW - professional development
KW - reflective practice
KW - youth work
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84860707079&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84860707079&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/0145935X.2011.639240
DO - 10.1080/0145935X.2011.639240
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84860707079
SN - 0145-935X
VL - 32
SP - 317
EP - 335
JO - Child and Youth Services
JF - Child and Youth Services
IS - 4
ER -