Learn about what it takes to uplift and expand the role of social service paraprofessionals in cross-sectoral systems that impact youth, families, and communities.
Friday, March 31, 9:00-10:00am Eastern Time
Key Points
- Social work is a viable profession with ample opportunities and pathways for volunteers, paraprofessionals, and professionals alike. Advanced degrees are not required in order for individuals to specialize in a particular practice area. For example, with proper training, paraprofessionals can specialize in trauma-informed care or case management.
- The National Association of Child Care Workers (NACCW) is an independent Non-Profit Organization (NPO) in South Africa that has developed a sequential, modularized, certified, and accredited child and youth care training system. The NACCW's training system serves as an excellent example of how to train and integrate paraprofessionals into existing social service systems.
- Because social service paraprofessionals often belong to existing community groups, integrating them into youth-related systems can improve access to services.
Access the slides for the webinar by clicking here. See attached below.
About the Event
Hear from and engage with Hugh Salmon, Director of the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance (GSSWA), a diverse cost-free network of individuals dedicated to promoting and strengthening the social service workforce by convening stakeholders, generating knowledge, building capacity, and promoting effective advocacy. Hugh spoke about GSSWA’s efforts to recognize the core role of social service paraprofessionals in addressing community-based issues in the education, health, mental health, and justice arenas.
This webinar talked about the importance of the social service workforce and looked specifically at three pressing issues related to drawing on paraprofessionals to expand access to and use of social services:
- overcoming stigma to promote paraprofessionals
- integrating social work paraprofessionals in youth-related systems
- credentialing for paraprofessionals
Participants were invited to share their work or questions on these topics through breakout rooms.
Presented by USAID's YouthPower 2: Learning and Evaluation Activity, the Youth Systems Strengthening Community of Practice (CoP) serves youth, practitioners in youth-serving organizations, and policymakers.
Photo credit: Pexels
About the Community of Practice
The YP2LE Learning Network brings together diverse stakeholders who seek to learn more and share about youth development. As one of six communities of practice, the Youth Systems Strengthening group (YSS) helps members share and benefit from collective learning. Learn more about the YSS and other CoPs on YouthPower.org and register to connect with these communities.
You must be a registered member of YouthPower.org in order to participate in the discussion group. Register today!
About YouthPower 2: Learning and Evaluation (YP2LE)
YP2LE is a USAID-funded activity focused on building and disseminating evidence on Positive Youth Development (PYD). YP2LE’s goal is to give program implementers, researchers, and young changemakers the information, tools, and resources they need to develop high-quality, impactful, and sustainable youth programs.