An overhead view of a team working together at a table.

Competency Area 8: Connection to Resources

This competency area focuses on the knowledge, skills, and abilities that youth service professionals need to develop and maintain connections and collaborative relationships with various community partners to assist youth in accessing the full range of services, support, and opportunities they need for success. Click on individual competencies listed below for learning objectives, professional development activities, and resources for that specific competency or scroll down to read them all. Note: The letter “D” indicates a competency specific to youth with disabilities.

8.1 Ability to identify a range of community resources (people, places, things, and money) that can assist youth

8.1 Ability to identify a range of community resources (people, places, things, and money) that can assist youth

Learning Objectives

  • 8.1.1 Maintain an inclusive and cohesive updated list and descriptions of a range of community resources (people, places, things, and money) that can assist youth

Selected Activities

  • Explore the Internet to find out if your community has an online community resource. If a map exists, list the advantages/disadvantages of these programs as they apply to your organizational needs

Demonstration of Learning – Show What You Know!

  • Maintain an inclusive and cohesive updated list and descriptions of a range of community resources (people, places, things, and money) that can assist youth

Resources Developed by NCWD/Youth and Partners

Other Resources

8.2 Ability to create relationships and network with other community agencies and potential partners

8.2 Ability to create relationships and network with other community agencies and potential partners

Learning Objectives

  • 8.2.1 Develop, model and monitor creative relationships and networks with other community agencies and potential partners

Selected Activities

Demonstration of Learning – Show What You Know!

  • Describe a plan or program possibilities to create relationships and network with other community agencies and potential partners

Resources Developed by NCWD/Youth and Partners

Other Resources

8.3 Ability to market own program as a valuable resource to community and a viable partner

8.3 Ability to market own program as a valuable resource to community and a viable partner

Learning Objectives

  • 8.3.1 Describe multiple strategies to market your program as a valuable resource to community and a viable partner

Selected Activities

  • Review other marketing plans in the community

Demonstration of Learning – Show What You Know!

  • Create a marketing plan for your initiative

Resources Developed by NCWD/Youth and Partners

Other Resources

8.4 Ability to build collaborative relationships and manage partnerships

8.4 Ability to build collaborative relationships and manage partnerships

Learning Objectives

  • 8.4.1 Describe multiple strategies to build collaborative relationships and manage partnerships

Selected Activities

  • Find three organizations with similar interests that might benefit from collaboration
  • Draft letters introducing your organization

Demonstration of Learning – Show What You Know!

  • Initiate a collaborative effort with another organization

Resources Developed by NCWD/Youth and Partners

Other Resources

8.5 Knowledge about different funding streams for youth

8.5 Knowledge about different funding streams for youth

Learning Objectives

  • 8.5.1 List and describe different updated funding streams for youth

Selected Activities

  • Develop a presentation that includes local, state or regional, and national funding streams for the youth served by your organization. Include funding levels and information on available resources

Demonstration of Learning – Show What You Know!

  • Can deliver a talk on multiple youth funding streams with little to no preparation

Resources Developed by NCWD/Youth and Partners

Other Resources

8.6D Knowledge of community intermediary organizations to assist with disability-specific supports and resources

8.6D Knowledge of community intermediary organizations to assist with disability-specific supports and resources

Learning Objectives

  • 8.6.D.1 List and describe different updated community intermediary organizations that assist with disability-specific support

Selected Activities

  • Research community intermediary organizations in your neighborhood

Demonstration of Learning – Show What You Know!

  • Draft a standard operating procedure to involve community intermediary organizations in an effort

Resources Developed by NCWD/Youth and Partners

Other Resources