Register Now for Workshop on Building Developmental Relationships with Youth
A DCHS CONNECT NEWS HIGHLIGHT
April 30, 2021--Residents and professionals who work with youth are invited to register for the two-day Intentional Relationships Virtual Workshop, a training provided by the Search Institute to help participants learn how to intentionally form well-rounded developmental relationships with young people.
The training, hosted by the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP) and the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA), will be held on May 11 and 13, 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Participants must be able to attend both days. Register online by May 6; space is limited.
“The most important thing that we can do for the young people in our community is to be the types of caring adults who are always in their corner, standing alongside them, encouraging them to be their very best selves,” says ACAP Coordinator Lisette Torres. “That’s exactly what this training is about--how we as adults can do this work with care and intention.”
According to Search Institute, developmental relationships are a close connection between a young person and an adult or between a young person and a peer that powerfully and positively shapes the young person’s identity and helps the young person develop a thriving mindset--an orientation to life characterized by the ability to not just survive but thrive.
The concept builds on the Search Institute’s research on Developmental Assets, a research-based framework that identifies basic building blocks of human development. Learn more about the Developmental Relationships Framework at search-institute.org.
ACAP and SAPCA’s initiatives draw heavily from the Development Assets framework, says SAPCA Coordinator Emma Beall, adding that both external and internal assets are important to healthy youth development. External assets include positive developmental experiences provided by networks of supportive people and systems in the community that offer youth a consistent source of love and respect, opportunities for empowerment, leadership, service as well as creativity, safe interpersonal and physical boundaries and high expectations for personal achievement. Internal assets are those qualities, skills and attributes a community and family can nurture within youth to contribute to their development.
“The more assets young people have, the more likely they are to make healthy choices,” says Beall. “Anyone can build assets by building and nurturing supportive relationships with young people and encouraging participation in positive activities.”
For more information about the workshop, email lisette.torres@alexandriava.gov or call 703.717.8336. Learn more about ACAP at alexandriava.gov/ACAP. Learn more about SAPCA at preventitalexandria.org.