From training to education: College credit for youth workers - Jen Curry, Youth Today

In a given year, a youth worker might complete state-mandated training, earn a social-emotional learning certification and log over 500 hours working directly with youth. They likely have a stack of certificates of completion, and maybe even an ‘Employee of the Month’ award. Yet, when they apply to college, none of their experience counts. This disconnect reveals a glaring flaw in our systems: While youth work requires specific knowledge and develops essential skills, higher education controls the portable credentials

that lead to future jobs. And the two systems are (usually) disconnected. In the out-of-school time (OST) and youth development sectors, this gap is an equity issue. The OST workforce has historically been composed of entry-level and minimum-wage jobs filled predominantly by women and people of color, and by young adults just starting their careers (see: NY and CA examples).

https://youthtoday.org/2026/04/training-education-college-credit-youth-workers/