Youth Development is more than a "catch-all" phase to describe working with adolescents. Youth Development is actually a process which involves positive adult interactions with the developmental needs of youth.

This workshop gives professionals a context for incorporating youth’s needs into programs in order to provide opportunities for them to meet these needs in healthy, positive ways.

Participants will:

• Participants will gain a solid understanding of the foundations of the research-based “Advancing Youth Development” curriculum

• Be able to articulate at least three developmental needs of young people

• Understand two types of youth development outcomes

Youth professionals learn to interact with youth based on their developmental needs. This approach creates an equitable and intentional program perspective.