Be It

GET READY TO BE IT!

We all want to be at our best when we show up for youth every day. Simple, right?

But in reality, our daily interactions with young people, families, schools, managers, etc. aren’t simple at all. BE IT was created to help make complicated situations more clear so we can really be at our best for young people.

Already have a copy of Believe It. Build It?

Download Be It and insert it into your existing binder.

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Print the instructions sheet

Step 2: Print the Be It insert front to back and hole punch it.

Step 3: Follow the instructions to insert it into your guide.

Here’s what you’ll find in these pages.

We know these tools won’t solve every dilemma, but they can help us navigate the unexpected challenges that come with youth work. We hope they make your work more rewarding and deepen the positive impact you make on young people.

1. Cornerstones of Youth Work:

Shared principles that build off the WE BELIEVE statements on p. 5. They’re the values that guide our day-to-day interactions with young people.

2. Thriving Strategies:

Each Thriving Strategy is one interconnected piece of what we need to thrive as youth workers. They’re most effective when youth workers and employers commit to them. Work through these in any order, and circle back as needed. (Don’t worry if some are more solid than others — that’s perfectly normal and will change as your career progresses and your organization evolves!)

3. Manager Action Items:

Youth workers can’t fully BE IT without ongoing support from higher ups. If you supervise youth workers and help set their work culture and conditions, you (yes, you!) play a critical role in youth workers’ success. The Manager Action Items offer specific strategies you can use right away to better support youth workers.

4. Building Block Reflection Questions:

We heard you — you wanted more opportunities to reflect on how your role as a youth worker supports high-quality effective practices. We’ve added more youth worker-centered reflection questions to each Building Block.

Cornerstones of Youth Work

Shared principles that build off the WE BELIEVE statements on p. 5. They’re the values that guide our day-to-day interactions with young people.