Most programs employ a small number of staff and make additional use of volunteers and consultants. Each employee works long hours for modest pay and little job security, using his or her skills and energy to provide youth with new perspectives and new experiences. The annual median number of staff is 2, with 5 volunteers and 8 consultants.
Most programs provide some type of training for people who work directly with youth.
This training is likely to be provided in-house by more experienced personnel. Only one-third of the programs provide ongoing training, however. A majority of programs prefer staff who have had previous experience working with children and youth. They are poets, actors, dancers, musicians, painters and museum curators, to be sure. They also are college teachers, historians, recording technicians, commercial artists, mask-makers, muralists, electronic and print media experts, lawyers, public health nurses, youth and social service workers, along with many others.