Indiana Youth Institute Announces Inaugural Vice President of Youth Worker Well-Being
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (June 7, 2023) — Indiana Youth Institute announces the hiring of a seasoned expert in the field of youth
services, Cassie Wade, in the new role of Vice President of Youth Worker Well-Being. Wade will lead the innovative Youth Worker Well-Being Project, a new $20 million investment supporting the work of youth development professionals as they implement educational, social, emotional, and physical development for Indiana youth (ages five to 18). Funding for the Indiana Youth Worker Well-Being Project is made possible through a Lilly Endowment Inc. grant to Indiana Youth Institute in collaboration with Indiana Afterschool Network (IAN), IARCA Institute for Excellence (IARCA Institute), Indiana Youth Services Association (IYSA), and Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY).
“I am delighted to welcome Cassie Wade to our team as the first Vice President of Youth Worker Well-Being,” said Tami Silverman, President & CEO of Indiana Youth Institute. “Through her expertise in operations, partnerships, engagement, and thought leadership in the field, Cassie will play a key role in the development and implementation of innovative programs that will address the top challenges Indiana youth workers face. The Youth Worker Well-Being Project is an exciting, collaborative statewide effort to improve the lives of Indiana’s youth workers so they can more effectively work with youth.”
Through their work, Indiana’s youth workers impact more than 1.5 million children under age 18 across the state. Children benefit when those professionals are engaged, aware of the needs of youth and families, knowledgeable about best practices, and when they can cope effectively with stress. The Youth Worker Well-being Project will address individual youth worker well-being, workplace conditions, and root causes of stress in the sector to promote comprehensive change to benefit youth workers and the youth they serve.
During the next four years, the Youth Worker Well-Being Project will establish a comprehensive statewide effort focused on six strategies to improve the lives of youth workers so they can more effectively work with Indiana youth. The first area of focus is supporting and providing increased access to virtual (or telehealth) services, including mental health counseling and short-term financial consultation. This initiative will launch in early 2024.
Three additional, new positions will be added to the Youth Worker Well-being team this summer. Job openings and descriptions will be posted soon at iyi.org.
About Cassie Wade: Overseeing the transformational Youth Worker Well-Being Project and as part of the Indiana Youth Institute team, Wade will oversee the successful delivery of the Indiana Youth Worker Well-Being (YWW) Project’s strategy and vision. She will serve as a collaborator with the coalition of Indiana youth services intermediaries, including the management of services, promotions, and supporting the tracking and evaluation of all related performance metrics.
Wade joins the IYI team from Bauer Family Resources, a nonprofit social service organization based in Lafayette, IN. Wade has held various positions at Bauer since 2007. She most recently served as the organization’s Chief Operating Officer, providing leadership and vision in the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and services.
Stay up to date with open job opportunities at Indiana Youth Institute by visiting: www.iyi.org/work-at-iyi/
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About the Indiana Youth Institute :
For over three decades, Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) has supported the youth services field through innovative trainings’, critical data, and capacity-building resources, aiming every effort at increasing the well-being of all children. To learn more about IYI, visit www.iyi.org, follow us on Facebook or Twitter.