The Youth Development Approach for Community Health Workers
Youth development is an ongoing process by which youth develop the personal, social, academic, and citizenship competencies necessary for adolescence and adult life. As an approach it focuses on capacities, strengths and formative needs of youth. Community health initiatives focused on youth must address youth in a manner that is accessible, credible, and important to them. Community Health Workers are more effective when they are able capitalize, build upon, motivate, and stimulate the abilities of young people they work with to build cooperative solutions to health issues. This presentation will focus on the components of youth development and how they apply to community health work. It will also explore avenues for professional development for community health workers. Integral to a youth development approach is the participation of youth, thus this presentation will include a youth perspective.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to: Identify components of the youth development approach; Understand the role of credentialling in the professional development of youth workers
Keywords: Youth, Professional Development
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The Medical Foundation
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment