Research
Curry, D., Richardson, R., & Pallock, L. (2011). Aligning educational program content with the U.S. youth work standards and competencies. Relational Child and Youth Care Practice, 24(4), 24-32.
Abstract: One university’s efforts to more closely align educational content and learning experiences with North American Certification Project competencies to better prepare students for certification and practice in the varied fields of child and youth work is described. A competency and curriculum review process revealed that many of the competencies were addressed by the existing human development and family studies coursework within the youth development concentration. However, a significant number of competency areas were only partially addressed and some competency areas were identified as being not addressed. Curriculum revisions included the development of two additional courses, modification of field-work requirements, and adjustments to several existing courses. The authors conclude that while few higher education programs within the U.S. specifically focus on child and youth work, quality programs in related disciplines (e.g., human development and family studies, psychology) could make program modifications based upon the competencies to better prepare child and youth workers for professional practice in a variety of settings.
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