Developmental Relationships: The Roots of Youth Thriving
Discover the role of Developmental Relationships in promoting youth thriving.
Developmental relationships are close connections through which young people discover who they are, cultivate abilities to shape their own lives, and learn how to engage with and contribute to the world around them. Through this learning experience, participants will gain an understanding of the assumptions we bring to relationships and the importance of strong developmental relationships between young people and the adults in their lives. Participants will explore Search Institute’s strengths-based research around developmental relationships, apply the Developmental Relationships Framework to their context, and plan a next step to build inclusive developmental relationships to promote and encourage thriving among all young people.
What is Youth Thriving?
Youth thrive when they are supported by systems that value their strengths, provide resources, and foster a sense of belonging and purpose.
Learning Objectives
Explore a relationship-focused approach to positive youth development: addressing misconceptions, and sharing benefits/outcomes.
Analyze your relationship-building practices through the Developmental Relationships Framework.
Analyze your program to assess how it aligns within an equitable relational ecosystem.
Create a practical next step for how you or your team will strengthen relationships with young people in your setting.
An Experience that Empowers Action
During this interactive learning experience, you’ll have access to research findings, questions to assist in reflection exercises around relational assumptions, the elements of developmental relationships and relational culture, as well as approaches to building strong relationships as you bring this learning experience to life in your daily interactions with young people.
-
Positive Youth Development (PYD): Principles of PYD provide the foundation for Search Institute’s approach to building developmental relationships.
Rooted in Relationships Model: The dynamic systems that work together to ensure all young people within an organization or program experience the developmental relationships they need to thrive.
The Developmental Relationships Framework: Study the Framework and consider your approach to building developmental relationships.
Relational Assumptions: Consider relational assumptions that may impede the ability to cultivate developmental relationships and relational ecosystems.
Relationships Matter: The benefits of strong developmental relationships.
-
Interactive learning experience combining knowledge-sharing with reflection and actionability
Contextual reflections on a young person you know today and adults from your own upbringing that shaped who you are now
Reflection questions on relational assumptions, the elements of Developmental Relationships, relational culture, and creating individualized approaches to building strong developmental relationships
Conduct a Relational Culture Check-up: A five-minute online check-up for leaders and staff, designed to help you identify what your organization is doing well and uncover areas for improvement
"I felt this workshop opened my eyes to some of the areas I need to continue strengthening or improving in regards to building relationships and providing opportunities for growth for my students."
Who Should Participate in this Workshop?
Adults at schools, youth serving organizations, agencies or youth programs who are in need of a model that can positively impact young people, making them feel seen, heard, that they belong, and have agency.
Adults Working Directly with Youth
Managers of Youth-Serving Organizations/Schools
Leaders of Youth-Serving Organizations/Schools
Delivery Method
Virtual or in-person.
Additional Professional Learning Opportunities
Igniting Sparks
Learn More
It Takes Each of Us: Cultivating Developmental Relationships
Empowering each adult to strengthen relationships with youth.
It Takes All of Us: Cultivating A Relationship-Rich Organization
Working together to build relational climates where all young people can thrive.