CDLI_Guidebook_18_Final_Print

PROGRAM/ORGANIZATION LEVEL
EMOTION MANAGEMENT: Adults support youth to be aware of and constructively handle both positive and challenging emotions.
Key Feature
Youth
Development
Competency Strategy Indicator Behavior
Examples
(Not exclusive or applicable
to all ages)
Appropriate
Structure and
Routine
A. Functional
Expertise
B. Quality Results
A. Adults assess the
youth's emotional
readiness and adjust
and engage in
response to the data.
A. Ys use researchbased
valid assessment
tools such as youth
surveys (i.e. HSA from
PEAR, Algorhthym
Youth survey) to
measure youth
stakeholder input.
B. The Y adopts and
uses a research based
character development
curriculum.
C. Y leadership creates
accountability metrics
for staff and volunteers
to deepen one-to-one
relationships with
youth.
A. The Youth Development Leader
recognizes the social-emotional,
cognitive, and physical milestones
youth experience during their
journey from birth to career.
B. The Youth Program Staff and
Leaders actively implement
regular evaluations of program
goals, the program environmental
quality and program outcomes.
C. The Y uses data to highlight
youth achievement and progress
to key stakeholders and
community partners.
1. Staff conduct an annual needs
assessment of the condition and
types of equipment available to
youth; if adjustments are needed,
Y Association leadership reallocates
resources or raises funds.
2. Ys include a quick survey for
campers' parents/caregivers to
complete as a part of the camper
application. Afterwards, each
counselor creates a personalized
youth engagement plan for
each camper.
3. Ys conduct a SEL Program
Quality Assessment (self and
external) and discuss the
outcomes as a team.
Supportive
Relationships
A. Relationships
B. Functional
Expertise
C. Developing
Others
A. The physical
environment
nurtures
appropriate
cognitive, physical,
and, social youth
development.
B. The Youth
Development
Leader recognize
that all youth have
individual needs,
temperaments,
characteristics
and abilities and
develop at their
own rate.
C. Leadership
promotes and
provides systems
for staff well being.
A. Materials &
resources are made
available to staff to
help identify and
maintain their own
emotional
well being.
B. Adults encourage
a culture where
youth can
appropriately optout
of program
activities.
C. Y leadership
create accountability
metrics for staff to
deepen one-to-one
relationships with
youth.
A. Adults create safe spaces
for youth to retreat and have
appropriate personalized,
reflection time.
B. A system is in place for
youth to regular monitor
and express their individual
emotions.
1. Program spaces are
accommodating to meet youth
needs (i.e. flexible furniture,
appropriate size furniture,
comfortable furniture). Youth
have options to move freely
through the program space at
appropriate times.
2. An emoji chart is available and
displayed to help youth express
their emotions.
3. Multiple signs are displayed
around the teen center that
encourage mental wellness and
reflection (e.g., "How will you
make the most of today?"
"The golden rule," and "LGBT
Safe Zone").
Opportunity
for Skill
Building
A. Developing Others
B. Functional
Expertise
A. Y Leadership
creates a plan
for intentional
recruitment,
onboarding
and orientation
activities with the
adults responsible
for character
development.
B. Y Leadership
provides ongoing
Youth Development
training opportunities
for Emotion
Management.
A. Y Leadership
establishes a
recruitment pipeline
for staff and volunteers
from internal and
local community
organizations.
B. Y Leadership
establishes professional
development
and career path
opportunities for staff.
A. Y Leadership schedules
regular training to review and
learn healthy strategies and
behaviors for supporting youth to
deal with their emotions.
1. Existing and new staff receive
training on Emotion Management
techniques.
2. Staff members are given time
once a week, or at the end of
the program time, to reflect and
get support from other staff to
address any youth issues that
were identified.
3. Staff communicate with each
other and share best practices for
interacting with youth.
4. Provide staff with Listen
First training.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT GUIDEBOOK
P 60