Northwood Training Model Adopted Statewide
(July 21, 2009)

Ten years ago Northwood entered into a ground-breaking partnership with the University of Wisconsin, Superior to provide the Youth and Family Services Certificate. The certificate program set a higher standard for professional development in youth work and was soon being replicated by agencies and colleges across the country. This year the Minnesota Council of Child Caring Agencies and the Minnesota Juvenile Detention Association, in partnership with the College of St. Scholastica and the University of Wisconsin, Superior adopted a 40 hour version of the Northwood program, called the Youth Services Certificate, as the core counseling curriculum for their member agencies across Minnesota. The goal of the training program is to provide youth workers with a developmentally-oriented, evidence-based framework for building strengths with at-risk youth. Training is provided at four regional sites. The first cohort of 65 counselors, social workers, educators, and other youth work professionals received certificates this spring.
For more information about the certificate program contact Dr. Dean Grace, Director of the Youth Services Training Institute at dgrace@northwoodchildren.org.