Positive Youth Development, the idea that all young people need positive opportunities to thrive, underpins much of the work social service organizations do with youth and their families. Need to introduce new staff members to PYD, or provide a refresher course for veteran youth workers? Our self-paced online course “Introduction to Positive Youth Development” is a good place to start.

The course is divided into five sections that can be presented as part of a multi-day training or as stand-alone workshops. Each section covers key principles of PYD:

1. Positive Youth Development: Overview of the key principles of Positive Youth Development and adolescent development.

2. Positive Youth Outcomes: Information on strategies to build positive outcomes.

3. Youth Voice and Engagement: Strategies and ideas on how to engage young people.

4. Youth Development Programming: Information on developing a positive environment and youth-centered learning and activities.

5. Youth Worker Competencies: Guidance on ethics, boundaries, and competency.