Element 4: Staffing and Professional Development

A quality program recruits, hires, and trains diverse staff members who value each participant, understand developmental needs, and form positive working relationships with youth, parents, co-workers, and other partners.

• Program employs staff members who are properly equipped with the academic and experiential knowledge needed to fulfill their job requirements
• Program leaders have ongoing staff recruitment and development plans to attract and retain high-quality staff
• Staff has required credentials and licenses
• Program leadership understands the value of reaching beyond mandatory training requirements to provide staff with additional tools and knowledge