Knowledge, Skills and Abilities for Youth Service Professionals Cadre of Trainers Workshop 

August 2009

The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Y), managed by the Institute for Educational Leadership and supported by a grant through the Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy, has worked to promote the need for and further grow a professional development system for youth service professionals. The Youth Service Professionals Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (YSP/KSA) Initiative, through its partner, National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC), has developed training materials to support this work. Part of the strategy for building and growing the youth service profession includes building a cadre of trainers to deliver the training content. In August 2009, NYEC helped lead a Train-the-Trainers session on the YSP/KSA Training Modules. 

The key objectives of the Train-the-Trainer session were to:

• Provide a comprehensive foundation on the YSP/KSA Initiative; training modules; and training module development, design and content
• Help trainers acquire or enhance skills that allow them to address training objectives based on the needs of YSP/KSA trainees and represented organizations
• Promote the exchange of lessons learned and experience-based practices related to the YSP/KSA training  topics and delivery
• Develop a cadre of trainers who are well-versed in the YSP/KSA Initiative and can help promote the sustainability of YSP professional development efforts