Abstract
This report examines the transition of youth development in the United States from a social movement to an emerging profession, charting achievements the field has made in developing core competencies and skill standards, training and education programs, career ladders, evaluations, and public awareness. Section 1 describes youth development as multi-dimensional, embracing: a process of human growth and development; a philosophical orientation to social development and community; and a programmatic framework for youth services. Section 2 discusses youth development as a professional field, explaining how to use the normative model to measure youth development as a profession. Section 3 examines the progress of youth development along the path of professionalization. Section 4 focuses on promising advances toward the professionalization of youth development work, looking at the need to address heterogeneity in the field; establish core competencies and skill standards; advance inservice training needs; promote preservice education programs; increase career awareness; and promote professional identification with the field. (Contains 24 references.) (SM)