Youth Development Professional Certification
Header Caption: Youth Development Professional Certification program organizers host a focus group in October to develop the curriculum.
In Partnership with District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation
Youth Development Professional Certification
The Youth Development Professional Certification program, the first of its kind in the region, offers a unique opportunity for individuals passionate about youth to gain cutting-edge education and connect with thought leaders in the field. This comprehensive program equips participants with the skills, knowledge, and strategies needed to effectively mentor and support youth across various educational and community settings.
This program is designed to foster the personal and professional growth of adult learners working in youth development while promoting resilience and enhancing their overall well-being—ultimately benefiting the young people they support. The program will engage 30 participants in a 9-month immersive learning experience, including monthly in-person, interactive virtual sessions, executive leadership coaching, peer coaching, mentoring, a leadership experiment project, and more. At the end of the program, participants will be certified as Youth Development Professionals, equipped to make a meaningful and lasting impact on youth in the District and beyond.
- Program Overview
Welcome to the Youth Development Professional Certification program. This comprehensive course is designed to equip you with the skills, knowledge, and practical experience needed to excel in youth development roles. Over the next several months, you'll engage in a variety of in-person and virtual sessions, covering topics from leadership and emotional intelligence to trauma-informed practices and project management.
- Outcomes and Impact
1. Cultivate self-awareness and observation skills to deepen their understanding of themselves and their developmental journey. (Inner Development)
2. Nurture leadership skills to inspire, guide, and positively impact the growth and development of youth. (Leadership Effectiveness)
3. Build relational capacity with strategies and resources that support the holistic development of young people. (Promote Positive Youth Development)
4. Equip participants with coaching, mentoring, conflict resolution, and de-escalation skills and techniques specifically designed to address the unique needs of youth. (Enhance Coaching & Mentoring Skills)
5. Foster resilience and integrate trauma-informed practices to enhance both their well-being and the well-being of those they serve. (Foster Resilience and Trauma- Informed Well-being)
6. Attend to embodied creative strategies that include movement, arts, and nature, to empower youth and enhance their personal and developmental growth. (Embodied Creativity)
7. Provide direct, hands-on learning experiences that enable participants to apply concepts in real-world youth development settings. (Practical Applications)- Program Design and Innovation
This certification program was not just a training — it was a transformative learning journey, designed to build leadership from the inside out.
- Monthly sessions — in person and virtual
- One-on-one coaching
- Peer learning circles led by certified coaches
- Trauma-informed and creative, embodied learning approaches
- Culminating in a leadership experiment project that integrated all their learning
This intentional design centered on empathy, growth, and leadership — exactly the qualities we need more of in public service today.
- Application Process
Acceptance into the program requires commitment and discipline beginning with the application process. There are two applications available, please select the correct application that fits your status:
DC Government Employees: YDPC Application for DC Government Employee
DC Community Resident: YDPC Application for DC Community Resident
High-quality participants add significant value to the learning experience; thus, we ask for your thoughtful response to the essay questions below by describing your interest, intention, and impact derived from the Youth Development Professional Certification.
This rigorous application process is intended to identify the candidates who will make the greatest impact through their deep work to enhance their service to fellow learners, and more importantly, resonate positive ripple effects on the youth community in the District of Columbia.
During this cohort, we will be accepting only 30 participants.
Program tuition: $15,000.
A limited number of scholarships will be available for community residents. Please indicate the need for scholarship in your application.
- Requirements
To be considered, applicants must meet all the following criteria:
- Youth Development Experience: A minimum of 3-5 years of experience in youth development, including a combination of education, work, or volunteer experience.
- District Residency: Applicants must be residents of the District of Columbia.
- Provide a recommendation letter from Agency Director/Supervisor or a Professional Letter of Reference.
- Mandatory attendance to one of the two virtual Information Sessions. Please register
- Dec 9, 2025, 12-1pm EST Information Session #1
- Dec 16, 2025, 6-7pm EST Information Session #2
Program Attendance Disclaimer:
- We urge you to carefully review the program schedule including all monthly in-person, interactive virtual sessions, executive leadership coaching, peer coaching meetings, that will allow you to spend blocks of time away from the office. Program participation is required to be 90% or higher for you to qualify for graduation.
- Be intentional in your own learning and open to contributing to that of your fellow cohort members.
- Be committed to applying the skills that you learn in working with young people.
- Program Dates
Virtual Information Sessions:
- December 9, 2025, 12-1pm
- December 16, 2025, 6-7pm
In Person Modules:
- Orientation: February 11, 2026
- Module 1: February 26-27, 2026
- Module 2: March 27–27, 2026
- Module 3: April 23–24, 2026
- Module 4: May 28–29, 2026
- Module 5: June 11–12, 2026
- Module 6: August 27, 2026
- Module 7: September 23-25, 2026
Virtual Modules & Learning Components:
- March 11- April 15, 2026 (every Wed for 2 hours/week): Life Plan/Building Emotional Intelligence
- July-August 2026: Project Work
- July -August 2026: Peer Coaching Check-In
- Individual Executive Coaching (3 hours, dates to be scheduled independently with the coach)
- Guided Book Talk & Conversation: May 13, June 10 and July 8, 2026, 1-3pm
*Program Dates may be subject to minor changes depending on emerging curricular shifts and space availability.
- Tuition
We will be accepting only 30 participants.
Program tuition: $15,000.
A limited number of scholarships will be available for community residents. Please indicate the need for scholarship in your application.
- Apply Now
Application Opens: November 19, 2025
Application Deadline: December 22, 2025
Finalist Announcements: January 9, 2026Acceptance into the program requires commitment and discipline beginning with the application process. There are two applications available, please select the correct application that fits your status:
DC Government Employees: YDPC Application for DC Government Employee
DC Community Resident: YDPC Application for DC Community Resident
INFORMATION SESSION
Attendance is mandatory to one of the two provided Virtual Information Sessions
(Dec 9, 2025 or Dec 16, 2025)
IMPORTANT DATES
Application Opens:
November 19, 2025
Application Deadline: December 22, 2025
Finalist Announcements: January 9, 2026
TUITION
We will be accepting 30 participants in this cohort, with a tuition of $15,000. A limited number of scholarships will be available for community residents.
Contact:
Ina Gjikondi
Program Director
gjikondi
gwu [dot] edu
202-994-5313
Terra Brown
Program Manager
terra [dot] browngwu [dot] edu