Knowing & Growing Quality Practice - Closed Due to Capacity

Session 2: 3:35-4:30 (55 minute workshop)

There is general consensus that young people need high-quality, structured, nonformal learning opportunities during their out‐of-school time and both research and practical wisdom show us that investments in promoting quality pay off.  On the other hand, poor quality is not neutral.  Mentoring  studies show that short or erratic pairings and poorly prepared mentors can negatively impact young people.  Fortunately, there are now a variety of observational tools and measurement frameworks that allow us to determine program strengths and areas needing improvement for a given program.  This workshop will help participants understand the benefits of increased attention to quality and guide them toward tools to use in their effort to yield improved outcomes for mentees.

Intended Workshop Audience: All Audiences

Deborah Moore is the director of the Youth Work Institute (YWI) and a state faculty member for the Extension Center for Youth Development. As YWI administrative lead, she is responsible for the statewide delivery of YWI learning. As a faculty member, she teaches, writes and conducts research on issues and ideas related to program quality. She has more than 23 years of experience working in and with youth development programs and has honed expertise in designing training/technical assistance, adult learning and practical resources that support change in real-life settings.  Deborah brings 23 years of professional experience in youth development in roles including executive director, board member, trainer/consultant, volunteer and direct service. She has expertise in youth program quality and organizational development, community networks and collaborations, and youth program measurement and evaluation. In every role, Deborah has dedicated herself to spending time at youth programs to understand them from the inside out. This perspective continues to be the greatest source of inspiration and learning in her professional journey. If you ask, she will say that no matter what her job role describes, she is a youth worker.