Launching a Youth Serving Program: Policies, Checklist, Resources, and Planning Tools

This course was created by the Office of School Partnerships at Indiana University to prepare staff and volunteers of Youth Serving Programs (YSP)'s to be equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in their roles.

Purpose of This Course

Welcome! Whether you're a new or returning staff member working with youth across Indiana and beyond, this training is designed just for YOU!

This Train the Trainer course was developed by the Office of School Partnerships at Indiana University to support program directors, administrators, and leaders in youth-serving programs and programs involving children. The course is designed to strengthen leadership capacity by deepening understanding of youth development, compliance requirements, and evidence-based best practices for designing, implementing, and overseeing high-quality youth programs.

The course emphasizes the critical role of leadership in establishing safe, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate environments for children and adolescents. Participants explore how policies, procedures, staff training, and organizational culture intersect to promote youth well-being and ensure program effectiveness. Special attention is given to aligning program practices with institutional expectations, legal and regulatory requirements, and ethical responsibilities related to working with minors.

Content focuses on core leadership competencies, including understanding the developmental needs of youth, interpreting and applying compliance and reporting requirements, establishing clear behavioral expectations and boundaries, supporting staff and volunteer readiness, and responding effectively to challenging or high-risk situations. The course also provides guidance on training delivery, equipping leaders with tools to support, coach, and educate staff and volunteers within their own programs.

In addition to practical guidance, the course curates resources, templates, and reference materials that program leaders can adapt for local use. Instruction is grounded in research-based practices and informed by expertise in education, youth development, instructional design, and program administration, with content presented in an accessible and implementation-focused format.

Through this training, you’ll explore practical, real-world approaches to topics such as:

• Behavior guidance and relationship-building

• Bullying and hazing prevention

• Creating inclusive environments for students with disabilities

• Trauma-informed practices

• Conflict resolution and communication

• And more—delivered in an interactive, accessible, and engaging format

This series was developed by professionals with experience in education, instructional design, youth programs, and special education—so you’ll find research-based strategies presented in a digestible, supportive way.

Who Is This For?

This course is intended for:

• Supervisors, Administrators, Directors, etc. who want to create their own Youth Serving Program at IU.

• Anyone else who may be interested in the legal, socioemotional, intellectual, aspects of Youth Serving Programs at IU.

Whether you’re working in a summer camp, afterschool program, or mentoring role, the goal is to empower you to meet the diverse needs of youth confidently and compassionately.