Archdiocese of Cincinnati's
Office of Youth and
Young Adult Ministry
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Training opportunities:

  ●  Volunteer

  ●  Professional Certificate
       ◊ Foundations Course
      ◊ Specialized Training
      ◊ Complete Brochure

  ●  Certification 

  ●  Advanced Certificate

  ●  On-Site Training

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Certificate Program for Professional Youth Ministry Leaders
 

Competence is the key to confidence and effectiveness.  The Certificate Program for Professional Youth Ministry Leaders addresses the skills, knowledge and attitudes identified by the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers Serving as Youth Ministry Leaders (2003, NFCYM, NALM, NCCL).

This competency-based ministry formation program is designed to develop the capabilities necessary to effectively serve as a professional Director or Coordinator of Youth Ministry or High School Campus Ministry, and includes opportunities for ongoing feedback and assessment of competence. Many who choose this training are working towards Youth Ministry Certification. 

The hallmark of this program is the development of a personalized learning plan that addresses pastoral ministry formation, theological training and specialized youth ministry training. The goal is to develop broadly competent ministry leaders with a strong specialization in youth ministry. Requirements include:

A.  Pastoral Ministry Formation:

·    Interview and Orientation

·    Initial self-assessment relative to the National Certification Standards

·    Development of a personalized learning plan

·    Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and interview

·    Participation in mentoring

·    Ministry project

·    Two college-level courses offered through the Athenaeum’s Lay Pastoral Ministry Program, or equivalent: Pastoral Communications and Formation for Discipleship  

·    Two observations with feedback by the staff of the OYYAM

B.  Theological Training (Six theology courses offered through the Lay Pastoral Ministry Program, or equivalent):

•  Hebrew Scriptures

•  Christian Scriptures

•  Church

•  Christology

•  Christian Ethics/Morality

•  Sacraments


C.  Specialized Youth Ministry Training

·    Foundations of Leadership for Comprehensive Youth Ministry (3-credit college course through the University of Dayton) Click here for description

·    Eleven specialized youth ministry training workshops or seminars (offered by the OYYAM). Click here for course descriptions):

 

  • Legal & Liability Concerns in Youth Ministry

  • Service that Changes Lives: Facilitating Service Learning

  • Introduction to Catechetical Ministry with Adolescents (Formerly Leading Teens to God)

  • Youth Ministry Dynamics: Small Group Facilitation

  • Youth Ministry Dynamics:  Large Group Facilitation

  • Youth Ministry Crisis Intervention

  • Preach the Gospel at All Times: Catholic Youth Evangelization

  • Developing Effective Youth Retreats

  • Empowering Youth to Pray

  • Adolescents & Suicide

  • Celebrate Diversity: Building a Multicultural Youth Ministry

Check out the complete brochure for the certificate program here.