Youth Development Professional Certification

This program supports youth development professionals with practices and skills that:

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)

Acceptance into the program requires commitment and discipline beginning with the application process. 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 first pilot cohort, we will be accepting only 24 participants, with tuition fully covered.

To be considered, applicants must meet all of 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.

Program Attendance Disclaimer:

• We urge you to carefully review the program schedule and select a format 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.