Working with Youth: Safety, Belonging, and Growth

Our mission is simple: to equip you with the tools, insights, and strategies to create safe, inclusive, engaging, and developmentally supportive environments for every young person you serve.

The effectiveness and impact of Indiana University's youth-serving programs rest fundamentally on the quality, preparedness, and dedication of YOU. This course outlines essential training topics designed to equip all personnel, including administrators, faculty, coaches, staff, students, contractors, and volunteers, with the core knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to foster environments where young people feel safe, supported, and inspired to learn and grow. High-quality staff/volunteers/faculty are the cornerstone of programs that not only enrich the lives of youth participants but also uphold the university's standards of excellence and care. We trust that you will rise to the occasion, and we hope this training serves as a launching point for your success.

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:

• Camp staff and site coordinators

• Youth-serving professionals and volunteers

• Partner organizations connected with the Office of School Partnerships

• Anyone who works closely with young people in out-of-school time environments

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.