Supportive Relationships and Environment

Building Block 2

building block 2

What It Means

Programs purposefully create a welcoming environment.  It’s an emotionally safe place that young people want to come back to again and again, a place where they feel a sense of security, belonging and ownership.

 

Why It Matters:

A young person needs a time and a place to develop – a place to safely fail and try again, a place to explore their interests or discover new passions.  A secure, welcoming, positive environment best supports learning and development.  

 

What Effective Practices Look Like:

  • Program structure provides opportunities for staff and youth to build trusting, appropriate relationships.

  • Program fosters a sense of community.  Staff are welcoming, and encourage youth to connect with one another.

  • Staff and youth have shared high expectations and consistency of appropriate norms and behaviors.

  • Staff uses positive guidance to direct youth behavior and model positive behaviors to youth and to each other.

  • Staff engages with youth as individuals to help them learn and develop.

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