Professional Research & Knowledge Taxonomy

Equity, Access and Opportunity
Ensuring that each young person has a chance to succeed

• Understand my own cultural/social identity and communication styles and how they impact relationship building
• Aware of and open to youth and volunteers who are diverse
• Understand differing cultural values, norms, practices and traditions and how those impact potential programming
• Value and incorporate multiple perspectives without prejudging individuals
• Understand the historical impact of power and privilege and develop then apply program polices to promote and support diversity
• Use non-defensive language and cross-cultural communication skills to prevent/minimize conflict in a cross- cultural setting
• Apply active listening techniques in accordance with cultural context
• Develop and conduct community needs assessments to gain meaningful input from diverse audiences
• Apply program design strategies appropriate for the intended audience(s)
• Recruits, supports and retains diverse volunteers and advisory committee members
• Develop meaningful, constructive relationships with local, grassroots organizations and informal community-based groups to expand outreach to diverse audiences

Youth Program Development
Creating experiences for young people

• Develop an effective advisory council
• Use existing data sources to identify program opportunities
• Obtain citizen perspectives through community forums, focus groups, interviews, or surveys
• Set program priorities
• Lead a committee or design team through the process of developing a local program
• Use a logic model to represent how a program operates
• Utilize knowledge of youth development and the learning process to create high quality learning experiences for young people
• Teach effectively using basic principles of instruction
• Design effective evaluations
• Utilize quantitative and qualitative evaluation methodology
• Analyze and interpret evaluation data

Volunteerism
Preparing volunteers to make a real difference

• Develop and apply personal and organizational philosophies of volunteerism
• Apply societal changes to volunteer administration strategies
• Advocate for the benefits of volunteerism through education and change management processes
• Create and support a positive organizational environment through effective volunteer staffing models
• Develop and conduct organizational and community needs assessments relative to volunteer engagement
• Identify potential volunteer positions within the organization and develop
  or utilize existing written position descriptions in a comprehensive recruitment process
• Implement appropriate selection strategies to engage potential volunteers for available position(s)
• Develop and conduct new volunteer orientation programs and ongoing educational programs for volunteers
• Develop and conduct ongoing educational programs for volunteers based on identified needs and organizational requirements
• Recognize volunteers through appropriate intrinsic and extrinsic methods or strategies
• Develop and conduct impact assessment of volunteer efforts and communicate to stakeholders

Partnerships
Uniting young people and adults for stronger communities

• Assess the readiness of youth and adults to work together
• Create environments which foster positive youth-adult interactions
• Facilitate youth involvement on 4-H boards and committees
• Understand and apply various models for youth action (organizing, advocacy, leadership, governance, and service learning)
• Understand and apply principles of community youth development
• Establish and maintain effective professional networks
• Assess readiness for community alliances
• Create and manage appropriate community alliances
• Develop and conduct a community analysis
• Apply community development tools and processes
• Facilitate workforce development through 4-H youth development

Youth Development
Understanding how young people learn and grow

• Understand and apply how youth grow physically and how these changes influence youth development programming
• Understand and apply how youth grow cognitively and how these changes influence youth development programming
• Understand and apply how youth grow socially and emotionally and how these changes influence youth development programming
• Understand and apply the intentional process that promotes positive outcomes for young people by providing support, relationships, and opportunities
• Understand and apply a model that demonstrates how multiple contexts have influence over the growth and development of youth
• Understand and apply the theory that all youth are affected by risk and
  protective factors and how programming can maximize protective factors and minimize risk factors
• Understand and create positive relationships with youth, families and community partners
• Set up environments and programs to promote positive behavior while implementing strategies to deal with negative behaviors in appropriate ways
• Demonstrate understanding of conflict management and resolution
• Articulate and develop programs that allow youth the opportunity to practice life skills

Organizational Systems
Connecting people and priorities for the greatest impact

• Understand the Cooperative Extension Service/4-H history and mission
• Establish effective program governance and management structures (i.e. committees, boards, policies, etc.) in accordance with organization policy and procedures
• Establish priorities and manage time, priorities, and resources effectively
• Apply strategies to balance work/life issues in a healthy manner
• Demonstrate effective and diverse interpersonal communication skills and strategies
• Develop and manage budgets in accordance with organization/university policy and procedures
• Secure and manage financial/human resources to support youth development programs in accordance with organization/university policy and procedures
• Plan for and manage safe, inclusive program environments for all persons
• Apply ethical standards of the profession
• Apply strategies to enhance the profession through the integration of research practice
• Advocate for positive youth development in all aspects and levels of work