Youth Work Supervision: Supporting Practice through Reflection

Authors

  • Jocelyn Wiedow Sprockets, Saint Paul

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/jyd.2017.482

Abstract

The role of a youth work supervisor is critical in supporting frontline staff to develop and strengthen their skills to provide high-quality programs for youth. This article emphasizes the need for supervisors to create a staff-centered approach to reflection. Key elements of strong youth work supervision include building trust with staff, embedding reflection into supervisory practice, and seeking continued support to improve supervisory practice. Examples from the field illustrate how these components can look in practice.

Author Biography

Jocelyn Wiedow, Sprockets, Saint Paul

Jocelyn Wiedow is the Network and Quality Coordinator at Sprockets, Saint Paul’s Out-of-School-Time Network. She found her passion for youth work as a camp counselor at an early age. In 1998, she had the opportunity to pursue her love for youth development in a full-time capacity. Since then, she has served as a front-line youth worker, case manager, and program manager, all of which have prepared her to support youth workers in her current role. Jocelyn has her Master’s Degree in Public Nonprofit Administration and an Individualized Studies Bachelor of Arts Degree focusing on Community Program Management.

References

Hartje, J., Evans, W., Killian, E., & Brown, R. (January 01, 2008). Youth worker characteristics and self-reported competency as predictors of intent to continue working with youth. Child and Youth Care Forum, 37(1), 27-41.

Jenkinson, H. (2010). The importance and benefits of supervision in youth work practice. Child & Youth Services, 31(3-4), 157-169.

Knowles, M. S., Holton, E. F., & Swanson, R. A. (2005). The adult learner: The definitive classic in adult education and human resource development. Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Konopka, G. (1973). Requirements for healthy development of adolescent youth. Adolescence, 8(31), 291-316.

National Helpers Network, Inc. (Ed.) (1998). Reflection: The Key to Service Learning, 2nd edition. New York: National Helpers Network.

National Institute on Out-of-School Time. (2009). Making the case: A 2009 fact sheet on children and youth in out-of-school time. Wellesley, MA: National Institute on Out-of-School Time.

Senge, P. M. (1990). The fifth discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization. New York: Doubleday/Currency.

Smith, C., Akiva, T., Sugar, S., Lo, Y. J., Frank, K. A., Peck, S. C.,… Devaney, T. (2012). Continuous quality improvement in afterschool settings: Impact findings from the Youth Program Quality Intervention study. Washington, DC: The Forum for Youth Investment.

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Published

2017-04-04

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2017): Special Issue on Practitioner Inquiry

Section

Feature Articles

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