This workshop provides tips and tools for those designing high quality youth development programs.

2. SESSION OUTCOMES
• Know 4 main steps to program planning
• Leave with at least two new ideas or
tools for designing (or re-designing)
high-quality youth development
program
• Share and hear ideas from others in the
room about their best tips and tools for
designing high-quality programs

3. 4 STAGES OF PLANNING
1) Identify needs and assets
2) Lay out the logistic: Make a plan
3) Use best practice
4) Review, revise, improve

4. QUALITY STANDARD: INTENTIONAL
PROGRAM DESIGN & IMPROVEMENT
Youth benefit when programs are intentionally designed
with clear outcomes that positively impact youth’s
knowledge, skills and behavior.
Youth also benefit when staff continuously use a variety of
information to assess and improve the quality of the
program’s design, activities and management to ensure
positive experiences and outcomes for youth.

5. IDENTIFY NEEDS
AND ASSETS

6. 4 WAYS TO IDENTIFY NEEDS AND ASSETS
1.Ask youth and families: “What have
you (or your child) always wanted
to learn more about?”

7. 4 WAYS TO IDENTIFY NEEDS AND ASSETS
1.Ask youth and families: “What have
you (or your child) always wanted
to learn more about?”
2.Ask teachers: “What skills do youth
need to build?”

8. 4 WAYS TO IDENTIFY NEEDS AND ASSETS
1.Ask youth and families: “What have you
(or your child) always wanted to learn
more about?”
2.Ask teachers: “What skills do youth need
to build?”
3.Scan the neighborhood/community to
find gaps and identify partners

9. 4 WAYS TO IDENTIFY NEEDS AND ASSETS
1.Ask youth and families: “What have
you (or your child) always wanted to
learn more about?”
2.Ask teachers: “What skills do youth
need to build?”
3.Scan the neighborhood/community
to find gaps and identify partners
4.Identify the real skills and resources
adults can offer youth – get realistic

10. LOGISTICS:
MAKE A PLAN

11. REFLECTION QUESTIONS FOR PLANNING
- WHO?
- WHY?
- WHAT?
- WHERE ?
- WHEN ?
- HOW?

12. WRITE UNIT & ACTIVITY PLANS
Activity Plan Elements
Title
Learning Objectives
Materials Needed
Times & Steps to Each Section of the
Activity
Critical Thinking Questions
Debrief and Closing
Unit Plan:
- Sets milestones for
learning goals
- Has a particular theme
or subject that
summarizes all the
lessons
- Outlines essential
questions to be
investigated

13. USE BEST
PRACTICES

14. Achieve Connect Thrive
Tips and tools for
incorporating literacy
https://www.y4y.ed.gov/t
ools/#literacy
Tips and tools for
incorporating math and
STEM everyday
https://www.y4y.ed.gov/t
each/stem/trainings-to-
go/stem-everyday
https://www.y4y.ed.gov/t
oolkits/afterschool/math/
A guide for new mentors
http://educationnorthwe
st.org/sites/default/files/e
ffective-strategies-for-
providing-quality-youth-
mentoring-in-schools2.pdf
Strengthen listening skills
of adults
http://lc.wayne.edu/peer
-
mentors/becoming_an_a
ctive_listener_2013.pdf
Step It Up to Thrive
curriculum
http://www.stepitup2thriv
e.org/

15. INCORPORATE PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
Internet Resources:
http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning
https://www.y4y.ed.gov/teach/pbl/training-starters/

16. ESSENTIALS TO PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
1) Spark curiosity and a need to know
2) Start with a good driving question
3) Honor youth voice & choice
4) Build Achieve, Connect, Thrive skills
5) Use a cycle of inquiry – questioning, hypothesizing,
researching, asking new questions
6) Incorporate feedback and revision
7) End with a publically presented project
Adapted from: http://www.ascd.org/publications/
educational_leadership/sept10/vol68/num01/
Seven_Essentials_for_Project-Based_Learning.aspx

17. WORK FROM AN EXISTING CURRICULUM
Citizen Schools has high-quality curriculum for
topical “apprenticeships”
http://www.citizenschools.org/curriculum/

18. REVIEW,
REVISE,
IMPROVE

19. REVIEWING INITIAL DESIGN
• Are the program goals and activities relevant to youth’s interests and goals?
• Is this program rigorous and intellectually challenging?
• Does the program honor the culture and community of participants and
families?
• Does the program expose youth to technology, careers, and college?
• Does the program embody respect, fun, and enthusiasm?
• Will the program use activities, ceremonies, and celebrations to promote the
program culture?
• For programs that also serve younger children: How do your methods of
engaging adolescents differ from methods used with younger children?
Best Practices in Summer Learning Programs
for Middle and High School Youth:
http://www.summerbestpractices.com/

20. GREAT RESOURCE WEBSITES
Edutopia
http://www.edutopia.org
You for Youth
https://www.y4y.ed.gov
Beyond the Bell 3rd edition
http://www.brooklyncastle.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Beyond-the-
Bell.pdf
California Afterschool Resource Center
http://www.californiaafterschool.org/search

21. CONTACT INFO
Sara Plachta Elliott
Director, Youth Development Resource Center
sara@detroitydrc.org
Twitter: @DetroitYDRC
Helena R. Lazo
Project Coordinator, Partnership for Youth
Southwest Counseling Solutions
Youth Development Alliance
hlazo@swsol.org