- Overview of Resources
- Physical and Psychological Safety Resources
- Supportive Relationships Resources
- Opportunities to Belong Resources
- Positive Social Norms Resources
- Appropriate Structure Resources
- Support for Efficacy and Mattering Resources
- Opportunities for Skill Building Resources
- Integration of Family, School, and Community Efforts Resources
- Printable Resources
A good overview of the concepts, research, theories, etc. regarding Opportunities for Skill Building can be found in REACH's Positive Youth Development modules.
Why is this important?
Resource 1: Understanding Core Capabilities
The concept of "core capabilities" refers to a range of life skills (e.g., planning, focus, self-control, awareness, and flexibility, etc.) which are used to manage life effectively. While the foundation to develop these skills is built in early childhood, they continue to develop into adolescence and early adulthood. Further, significant and continuous hardships can have negative impacts on the development and execution of these life skills.
This article describes how core capabilities or life skills develop and work together to manifest varied behaviors. It also explains how stressful life events and sustained adversities can negatively impact development of life skills.
Managers and Staff could:
- Understand how self-regulation and executive functioning impact capabilities like self-control, awareness, planning, and flexibility
- Learn the mechanism behind reactive and proactive behaviors
- Increase understanding about factors that impede the ability to use core capabilities or life skills effectively
The Science of Adult Capabilities (Article, Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University)
Resource 2: Fostering Soft Skills in Adolescents and Young Adults
Soft skills are referred to as non-technical skills that relate to how you work and interact with others. Developing soft skills in youth builds their hard skills for future jobs as well as any other future opportunities.
This website has different modules and pdfs to understand core soft skills youth need to develop. In the pdfs are visuals, and charts to help make and build connections to have not only soft skills, but the environment to do so.
Managers and Staff could:
- Use several charts and diagrams in training
- Identify the key soft skills
- Actively build on the skills mentioned with youth
Guiding Principles to Foster Soft Skills Among Adolescents and Young Adults (YouthPower)
How can I help my staff in this area?
Resource 1: Meaningful youth engagement
Meaningful youth engagement refers to intentional collaboration between youth and the program. When youth are meaningfully engaged, their experiences and ideas are incorporated into program design, and they are actively involved in various parts of the program like goal setting, policy development, and implementation. Meaningful engagement of youth in the program is associated with positive youth outcomes.
The article explains how program managers can create an environment for youth to engage meaningfully. It also offers multiple ways through which youth engagement can take place. Finally, it provides important tips to effectively recruit and retain youth in the program.
Managers could:
- Understand the precursors for making youth engagement meaningful within a program
- Incorporate strategies that convey to youth that their input is valued and critical to the success of the program
- Identify strategies to adopt meaningful youth engagement within the program through examples of other programs
Resource 2: Development of Core Skills
Youth need to develop executive functioning and self-regulatory skills to manage social roles and responsibilities effectively. Youth programs can help strengthen these skills but the presence of stress and continuous hardships can have a negative impact on skill building. An effective youth program aims to optimize opportunities for youth to strengthen their skills while also striving to reduce adversities in their lives.
The article explains the roles youth program staff can play in developing and strengthening core life skills. It also describes how stress adversely impacts brain pathways, making it difficult for youth to successfully use their skills. Finally, it provides practical suggestions for program leaders to create opportunities for optimal skill development while lessening unintentional stress from youth's lives.
Managers could:
- Understand how brain pathways develop as a result of core life skills development
- Get tips for developing youth's core skills and delivering services that reduce stress in the program
- Learn how the tips recommended for youth program activities impact development of core life skills
How can my staff help youth in this area?
Resource 1: Activities for learning life skills
Life skills education refers to developing competencies to increase positive and adaptive behavior by assisting individuals to develop and practice social skills. Developing and improving these skills can increase personal and social competencies of youth.
This resource contains strategies for increasing life skills in youth. The activities are arranged by age groups and topics.
Staff could:
- Tailor activities to the developmental level of the youth
- Develop programs and activities for youth to practice life skills (e.g., practice money management by creating a budget).
- Prepare youth for future jobs or internships by role playing a mock interview with a list of questions to ask youth, and have youth write a list of questions they have for their employer
- Have youth form study groups to build study habits
- Develop youth's interests by having them participate in after school and community clubs, sports, and activities
Ideas for Teaching Life Skills (Idea Worksheet, University of Wisconsin-Madison)