Youth Worker Characteristics and Self-reported Competency as Predictors of Intent to Continue Working with Youth

Using a web-based self-report survey, this study examined the characteristics of individuals who worked directly with youth in out-of-school time programs. Specifically, it examined the relationships among intent to continue working in the youth development field and youth program staffs’ experience, training, educational background, and self-reported competency in implementing the features of positive developmental settings for youth (Eccles and Gootman, Community programs to promote youth development, 2002). To accomplish this, we also developed a self-report youth worker competency measure and present its psychometric properties. Results suggested that intent to continue working in the youth development field is higher for youth workers who reported higher overall job-related competency, received professional development training, reported life experiences similar to the youth with whom they worked, learned aspects of their job from more experienced staff, had adequate supervision and support, and worked in programs where staff were more involved in program decision-making. Results are discussed in terms of the value of training and professional development in retaining frontline youth workers.