Staff Learning

Welcome to the USY Staff Training Hub – your go-to resource for equipping yourself with the skills, knowledge, and inspiration needed to lead impactful experiences for our teens. Here, you’ll find a range of trainings designed to enhance your role, from interactive workshops on youth engagement and safety protocols to leadership development and programming ideas. Dive in, and prepare to make a lasting difference in the lives of our USY participants!

Upcoming trainings

Telling Your Origin Story and Gaining Instant Trust

  • A training session on how to develop and tell your story to be able to pitch to donors to help fund your USY chapter
  • Learn how to be able to craft your USY origin story and utilize that story to be able to make successful pitches to donors, whether to raise money for your chapter, tikun olam, event, or something else.

Teen Spirit: Revitalizing Synagogue Life for the Next Generation

Presented by Rabbi Ilan Schwartz, USY Director of Leadership Development

Delve into the dynamic world of teen engagement! We will explore trends in teen programming, share best practices for starting and sustaining your program, and discuss how to empower teen leaders to create a youth engagement engine in your synagogue. This session is designed for educators, community leaders, and anyone passionate about fostering a vibrant and engaging environment for today’s Jewish teens.

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) Certification

Two virtual session options: Thursday, February 27 or Friday, April 25

One in-person session in NYC: Sunday, March 2

Cosponsored by USY, BeWell, and Jewish Education Project

Now, more than ever, Jewish teens are in need of trusted adults in their lives who are actively engaged in their well-being. This moment in time is particularly difficult because existential challenges brought on by the war in Israel are piling on top of the day-to-day complicated lives of Jewish teens…creating a cumulative effect. If you are a Jewish youth professional who works with adolescents (12-18+ years old), this training is for you.

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) enables youth professionals to recognize signs of distress and guide a young person toward appropriate treatments and other supportive health care. Participants will learn how to distinguish between typical adolescent development and symptoms of mental health challenges most common to young people; anxiety, depression, eating or substance use disorders, and the impact of social media and bullying. YMHFA emphasizes the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent who is in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. They will walk away with strategies for self-care and a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Participants who complete this course will earn a certificate that is valid for 3 years.

**USY is covering the $25 registration fee for all USY Youth Professionals.  Use code USY100 for a free registration.**

Option 1: (Virtual) Thursday, February 27, 11 am – 4 pm ET 

Option 2: (In-person NYC) Sunday, March 2, 3 pm – 8:30 pm ET 

Option 3: (Virtual) Friday, April 25, 11 am – 4 pm ET