Assessing the Readiness of Kentucky Youth Care Workers to Professionalize

Authors

  • Carla Kirby Department of Juvenile Justice, Kentucky

Keywords:

youthwork, professionalism, certification, professional development, child and youth care work

Abstract

This research project focused on assessing whether or not Kentucky child and youth care workers were in a position to move toward professional status. Via focus groups and interviews conducted in 1996, the researcher accessed administrators and child and youth care workers in private residential facilities in Kentucky, national advocates of professionalization, and formal documents and records in order to gain an under­ standing of child and youth care within Kentucky and North America. Replication focus groups and interviews were conducted again in 2002 for validation and comparison. The scope of this study included an assessment of the readiness for and needs associated with professional affiliation of child and youth care workers in Kentucky, in their attitudes and perceptions about professional affiliation, and future direction of the field. This article is an excerpt from the study and focuses on the researcher's findings and recommendations to the field.

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Published

2003-11-01

How to Cite

Kirby, C. . (2003). Assessing the Readiness of Kentucky Youth Care Workers to Professionalize. Journal of Child and Youth Care Work, 18, 174–191. Retrieved from https://acycpjournal.pitt.edu/ojs/jcycw/article/view/358

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Section

Articles