1. Intentional Quality Practice: Infusing Quality Into the Dynamic of Daily Practice Joyce A. Walker, Ph.D. University of Minnesota

2. Framing of Presentation How will the conversation on intentional quality practice this afternoon help me in my work?

3. What is Quality? Quality speaks to the essential character or distinctive nature of something... as well as to the degree or grade of excellence associated with it as in high quality or poor quality.

4. Practice Effective practice speaks to a customary way of doing things that produces the desired impact or intended purpose.

5. Programs vs. Practice Quality Practice associates quality with the doing or the dynamic of youth work. Quality Program Features associate quality as a descriptor of aspects of a program.

6. Optimally Effective Practice Optimally effective practice speaks to a customary way of doing things that produces the most desirable or favorable purposes. This is probably the goal closest to the pursuit of quality

7. What does quality look like? It depends on where you’re standing and what you’re seeing...

16. Challenges of Quality When you think about quality, what issues come up that you find challenging?

17. #1 The Quality Conundrum Quality assurance vs. Over-reaching directives and requirements Commit to quality AND retain flexibility, innovation and responsiveness Professionalize vs. “Heart & Soul” BALANCE is key! We’ll can make this balance work.

18. #2 Make Variety a Virtue “Our work is more than a time slot.” Think about quality practice for the youth development program sector – not just for “my” program. Keep young people and our experiential ways of working at the center.

19. #3 How do we be accountable? BALANCE of QUALITY & OUTCOMES Assess IMPACT at state level. Assess QUALITY at point of service. Assess OUTCOMES at program level as appropriate to goals and activities. SYSTEMS FOCUS ON PROMOTING DIMENSIONS OF QUALITY PRACTICE

20. Typically we think in terms of program Quality is associated with certain features of a program... –Quality staff –Quality activities –Quality management –Quality facilities Quality is a result of INTENTIONAL action and planning.

21. Framework for Developmentally Intentional Youth Program

22. The Big Ideas Young people achieve learning and developmental outcomes best when they are actively engaged in their own learning and development. Engagement results from a “good fit” between the young person and an intentional, quality youth program.

23. So We’re After 1.Active Engagement by Youth 2.Good Fit for Young Person

26. Elements of Quality Practice

27. High Quality Practice Foster high quality by investing in what it takes to expand youth worker expertise, increase quality youth engagement and promote quality program features.

28. Take a System’s Perspective!

29. Assess features and build in continuous improvement. Quality features of a program can be observed and measured at the POINT OF SERVICE by a number of Youth Program Quality Assessment tools.

30. Open the door to full range of youth engagement

31. We recognize expertise Staff with expertise and competence have deep understanding and many choices that guide their work with young people.

32. Framework for Developmentally Intentional Youth Program