Publication year
2010
Citation Title
Dilemmas of practice: Challenges to program quality encountered by youth program leaders.
Journal Name
American Journal of Community Psychology
Journal Volume
45
Issue Number
3-4
Page Numbers
338-349
DOI
10.1007/s10464-010-9307-z
Summary
Quality youth programs are composed of well-trained and competent youth workers who regularly encounter challenging situations. Interview data from leaders and youth were used to investigate the types of challenging or "dilemma" situations youth leaders encountered and how each leader dealt with such situation. Results showed over 250 "dilemma situations" youth workers are confronted with while at work with youth. Future research may consider examining other ways youth leaders can be more effective in resolving various situations.
Key Findings
Data indicated approximately 250 “dilemma situations” (i.e., responding effectively to youths’ individual needs and personality while working with restricted time and resources) that youth workers encountered over the course of 2 to 9 months.
Results revealed five categories and 12 subcategories of “dilemma situations".
Outcomes showed skilled youth leaders generally responded to these situations in various ways that were categorized as youth-centered with the ability to balance multiple concerns.
Implications for Military Professionals
Collaborate with high-quality youth development programs that work with military families to provide in-person and observational trainings to increase skills of current youth leaders
Participate in military events (e.g. reintegration) that impact youth (e.g. deployments, relocation), so as to increase youth workers’ competency in working with military youth
Implications for Program Leaders
Recommend increased training seminars on how to resolve “dilemma situations” that youth workers regularly encounter
Promote quality evaluation methods of youth leaders’ skills and program design to increase effectiveness for youth outcomes
Implications for Policy Makers
Recommend participation in professional development courses for community youth leaders to increase competency in working with military youth
Encourage community-based resources that support military youth in times of transition (i.e. deployment, relocation)
Methods
Data were derived from a qualitative longitudinal study over 2-9 months of 12 youth development programs for high-school-aged students.
Programs were recruited based on procedures and criteria, such as a reputation of high quality and experienced leaders and programs that had positive youth outcomes (i.e., engagement).
Interviews were conducted via in-person and phone at the beginning, middle and end of research study.
Participants
Eighteen leaders and 113 youth were interviewed from 12 high-school-aged youth programs over the course of 2-9 months.
Youth development programs ranged in location and programming: urban (n=7); rural or small cities (n=5); community-based (n=6); school-based (n=4), and faith-based (n=2).
Leaders’ ages ranged from 22-55 years old and leaders had 2-30 years of experience. They were mostly female (n = 11) and were comprised of the following racial/ethnic backgrounds: White (n = 9), Black (n = 6), Latino (n = 1), Arab American (n = 1), and East Indian (n = 1).
Youth interviewed were Black (n=37); White (n= 36); and Latino/a (n=32).
Limitations
Although sample is based on high-quality youth development programs, conclusions may not be representative of all programs.
Other untested variables may be influencing results such as leaders’ educational and training background.
While inter-rater reliability was above 80%, it was conducted with only one research staff member.
Avenues for Future Research
Consider evaluating educational and training backgrounds of leaders and their ability to effectively manage and resolve “dilemma” situations
Explore frequency and range of challenging situations that occur within other youth programs.
Examine specific problem solving or cognitive skills necessary for skills youth leaders to effectively resolve challenging situations that arise in youth development programs
Focus
Civilian
Target Population
Population Focus
Abstract
To create and sustain high quality youth development programs it is important to understand the challenging situations and dilemmas that emerge in program leaders’ daily work with youth. In this research the experiences of leaders in 12 programs were followed over a 2_9 month period, which led to the identification of 250 dilemma situations. Qualitative analyses identified 5 categories and 12 subcategories of dilemmas that reflected distinct types of considerations (e.g., youth’s personalities, relationships with the community). The analyses also found that the experienced leaders in the study typically responded to these dilemmas in ways that were youth-centered and that balanced multiple considerations. It is argued that researchers need to go beyond identifying features of high quality programs, and more fully examine how effective leaders create and sustain high quality in response to the challenging situations of practice.
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