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BEST
Initiative
TMF's
BEST Initiative works to improve youth workers' access to professional
development opportunities and further build the field of youth work
through a multi-faceted approach:
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BEST
Initiative Training Institute: BEST offers a Youth Worker
Certificate Program, providing training in the youth
development approach and the basic competencies of youth
work. Supervisor training and other training opportunities are
also offered. Go to youth
work community to learn about upcoming trainings, or download
BEST brochure. |
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Promoting
youth development: BEST provides introductory to advanced-level
training on the youth development approach to a wide variety
of youth workers and youth-serving organizations. |
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Professional
development portfolios: BEST Certificate Program graduates
may use this on-line resource to record their employment history,
educational and other professional experience, participation
in trainings and conferences, licensure, recognitions, and more.
Portfolios are a valuable resource for documenting and demonstrating
personal skills and competencies. |
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Networking:
BEST supports the professional development of youth workers
by providing technical assistance to youth worker networks,
organizing conferences and other networking opportunities, and
working with state and local leadership to develop new opportunities
for the field. |
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Collaboration
among agencies: A large group of managers of youth-serving
agencies in the Boston area are brought together each year to
help guide the direction of the initiative, and representatives
of youth-serving agencies serve as BEST's advisory board. |
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System-building:
BEST works to promote higher
education programs for youth workers and recognition of
the BEST certificate program, build coalitions of capacity-building
organizations, and partner with other initiatives to broaden
opportunities for youth workers. |
BEST
is an initiative of the National
Training Institute for Community Youth Work of the Academy
for Educational Development. The Boston BEST Initiative, a project
of The Medical Foundation, is
one of 15 BEST sites around the country.
The
national BEST Initiative aims to develop local infrastructure for
youth worker training based on the youth development approach, and
support a national network of community-based efforts. Training
is based on Advancing
Youth Development: A Curriculum for Training Youth Workers,
administered by NTI and produced by the AED/Center for Youth Development
and Policy Research in collaboration with the National Network for
Youth, Inc., and the Boston
School-Age Child Care and Youth Worker Basic Competencies.
Download
BEST brochure l BEST
Training Institute l Supporting
BEST
BEST
Initiative l Professional
Development l Youth Development
| Youth Work Community |
Portfolios | Job
Resources
© The Medical Foundation
Designed by Metropolis
Design, Inc.
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The
Medical Foundation
95 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02116
Phone 617-451-0049
TTY 617-451-0007
Fax 617-451-0062
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