Intentional Quality Practice:
Infusing Quality Into the Dynamic
of Daily Practice
Joyce A. Walker, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota
Framing of Presentation
• How will the conversation
on intentional quality
practice this afternoon help
me in my work?
What is Quality?
• Quality speaks to the
• essential character or distinctive nature of
something . . . as well as to the
• degree or grade of excellence associated
with it as in high quality or poor quality.
Practice
• Effective practice speaks to a customary
way of doing things that produces the
desired impact or intended purpose.
Programs vs. Practice
Quality Practice associates quality with the
doing or the dynamic of youth work.
Quality Program Features associate quality
as a descriptor of aspects of a program.
Optimally Effective Practice
• Optimally effective practice speaks to a
• customary way of doing things that
produces the
• most desirable or favorable purposes.
• This is probably the goal closest to the
pursuit of quality
What does quality look like?
• It depends on where you’re standing and
what you’re seeing. . .
Challenges of Quality
• When you think about quality,
what issues come up that you
find challenging?
#1 The Quality Conundrum
• Quality assurance vs. Over-reaching
directives and requirements
• Commit to quality AND retain flexibility,
innovation and responsiveness
• Professionalize vs. “Heart & Soul”
• BALANCE is key!
• We’ll can make this balance work.
#2 Make Variety a Virtue
• “Our work is more than a time slot.”
• Think about quality practice for the youth
development program sector – not just for
“my” program.
• Keep young people and our experiential
ways of working at the center.
#3 How do we be accountable?
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BALANCE of QUALITY & OUTCOMES
Assess IMPACT at state level.
Assess QUALITY at point of service.
Assess OUTCOMES at program level as
appropriate to goals and activities.
• SYSTEMS FOCUS ON PROMOTING
DIMENSIONS OF QUALITY PRACTICE
Typically we think in terms of
program
• Quality is associated with certain features
of a program . . .
– Quality staff
– Quality activities
– Quality management
– Quality facilities
• Quality is a result of INTENTIONAL action
and planning.
Framework for Developmentally
Intentional Youth Program
The Big Ideas
• Young people achieve learning and
developmental outcomes best when they
are actively engaged in their own learning
and development.
• Engagement results from a “good fit”
between the young person and an
intentional, quality youth program.
So We’re After
1. Active Engagement by Youth
2. Good Fit for Young Person
Elements of Quality Practice
High Quality Practice
Foster high quality by
investing in what it
takes to expand youth
worker expertise,
increase quality youth
engagement and
promote quality
program features.
Take a System’s Perspective!
Assess features and build in
continuous improvement.
• Quality features of a
program can be
observed and
measured at the
POINT OF SERVICE
by a number of Youth
Program Quality
Assessment tools.
Open the door to full range of
youth engagement
Rings of Engagement
PEOPLE
RELATIONSHIPS
PLACES & PROGRAMS
Theresa K. Sullivan, Rebecca N. Saito, August 2008, University of Minnesota, Center for Youth Development
We recognize expertise
• Staff with expertise
and competence have
deep understanding
and many choices
that guide their work
with young people.
Framework for Developmentally
Intentional Youth Program