--- title: "Power of Us Survey: Understanding an Essential Workforce" description: A survey for youth-serving professionals, administered by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) with a goal of exploring, defining and elevating the youth fields workforce. image: https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/insights_practice_2022-07-power-of-us.jpg --- Theme + Migration = $1489 (Pay for the Theme Only). [Learn More.](https://www.lpd-themes.com/migration) [![hlogo](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hs-fs/hubfs/hlogo.webp?width=187&height=90&name=hlogo.webp "hlogo")](https://searchinstitute.org) - [BLOG](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/) - [DONATE](https://searchinstitute.org/donate) - [CONTACT](https://searchinstitute.org/contact) - [RESEARCH](https://searchinstitute.org/research) - [SOLUTIONS](https://searchinstitute.org/solutions) - [INSIGHTS](https://searchinstitute.org/insights) - [FUNDERS & PARTNERS](https://searchinstitute.org/funders-partners) - [ABOUT](https://searchinstitute.org/about) [RESOURCE HUB](https://searchinstitute.org/resources-hub) [Why Relationships Matter and How to Get Started](https://searchinstitute.org/relationships-matter-get-started) Understand the foundations of developmental relationships and the power you have to strengthen those relationships for all young people to learn and grow. [Resources Tailored to Your Role](https://searchinstitute.org/resources-hub/search?query=&page=1&configure%5BenablePersonalization%5D=true&configure%5BuserToken%5D=anonymous-2aec4746-2f17-46a7-871b-a10e30f1f2f7&configure%5BclickAnalytics%5D=true&hierarchicalMenu%5Btaxonomy.lvl0%5D=Resource%20Audience) Tools to support everyone who works with young people — educators, youth program workers, schools and youth program leaders, and community members [Resources Related to the Setting Where Relationships Take Place](https://searchinstitute.org/resources-hub/search?query=&page=1&configure%5BenablePersonalization%5D=true&configure%5BuserToken%5D=anonymous-2aec4746-2f17-46a7-871b-a10e30f1f2f7&configure%5BclickAnalytics%5D=true&hierarchicalMenu%5Btaxonomy.lvl0%5D=Setting) Young people thrive when they experience a broader web of relationships, build strong relationships in a class or program, at home, and across your organization. [Resources on Key Topics](https://searchinstitute.org/resources-hub/search?query=&page=1&configure%5BenablePersonalization%5D=true&configure%5BuserToken%5D=anonymous-2aec4746-2f17-46a7-871b-a10e30f1f2f7&configure%5BclickAnalytics%5D=true&hierarchicalMenu%5Btaxonomy.lvl0%5D=Topics) Relationships are key across several disciplines including family systems, social and emotional development, social capital, and community development. [Resources in Your Favorite Format](https://searchinstitute.org/resources-hub/search?resourceTypes=Activity,Book,Guide,Journal%20Article,Measure%20/%20Assessment%20/%20Evaluation,Relational%20Practice,Report%20/%20Brief,Tool%20/%20Playbook,Video) Explore tools, frameworks, activities, guides, measures, and other research-based resources to build strong relationships with all young people. [![hlogo](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hs-fs/hubfs/hlogo.webp?width=187&height=90&name=hlogo.webp "hlogo")](https://searchinstitute.org) [![hlogo](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hs-fs/hubfs/hlogo.webp?width=187&height=90&name=hlogo.webp "hlogo")](https://searchinstitute.org) - BLOG - SHOP - DONATE - CONTACT - [RESEARCH](https://searchinstitute.org/research) - [SOLUTIONS](https://searchinstitute.org/solutions) - [INSIGHTS](https://searchinstitute.org/insights) - [FUNDERS & PARTNERS](https://searchinstitute.org/funders-partners) - [ABOUT](https://searchinstitute.org/about) [![hlogo](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hs-fs/hubfs/hlogo.webp?width=187&height=90&name=hlogo.webp "hlogo")](https://searchinstitute.org) - [RESEARCH](https://searchinstitute.org/research) - [SOLUTIONS](https://searchinstitute.org/solutions) - [INSIGHTS](https://searchinstitute.org/insights) - [FUNDERS & PARTNERS](https://searchinstitute.org/funders-partners) - [ABOUT](https://searchinstitute.org/about) - [RESOURCE HUB](https://searchinstitute.org/resources-hub) # Blog July 11, 2022 1 Minute Read By : [Search Institute](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/search-institute) Topics Developmental Relationships Research Developmental Assets Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Youth Programs Provide Support Family Engagement Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) SI Spotlight Social Capital Share Power Solutions Youth Thriving Education / School Expand Possibilities Student Voice Challenge Growth Summer Scholars Thriving Youth Voice Express Care Sparks Data Insights Faith Field Partner Spotlight LGBTQ+ Workshops Relationship Ready Schools Conversation Starters Sports Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) # Power of Us Survey: Understanding an Essential Workforce [![Share on twitter](https://7528302.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528302/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/x-twitter-color.png?width=24&name=x-twitter-color.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.searchinstitute.org%2Fpower-of-us-survey%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.searchinstitute.org%2Fpower-of-us-survey%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) [![Share on linkedin](https://7528302.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528302/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/linkedin-color.png?width=24&name=linkedin-color.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.searchinstitute.org%2Fpower-of-us-survey%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on facebook](https://7528309.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528309/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/facebook-color.png?width=24&name=facebook-color.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.searchinstitute.org%2Fpower-of-us-survey%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) ![](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/insights_practice_2022-07-power-of-us.jpg) # Power of Us Survey: Understanding an Essential Workforce By [Search Institute](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/search-institute) July 10 2022 1 Minute Read Young people play, learn, and grow across the many settings and systems that you help lead: afterschool and out-of-school time programs, community centers, libraries, athletic programs and more. Policymakers and practice leaders suggest youth-serving professionals and volunteers play an integral role in supporting youth to thrive. Yet, there is little collective information about this essential workforce.         Search Institute is joining forces with the ‘Power of Us’ initiative to ensure the voice of youth-serving professionals and volunteers is heard by providing the opportunity to contribute to a national effort to explore, define, and elevate their work with youth. “At Search Institute, we collaborate with partners to conduct and apply research that promotes positive youth development and advances equity. The outcome of our work focuses on supporting youth-serving practitioners as they help young people succeed and thrive,” says Ben Houltberg, Search Institute President & CEO, and Youth Fields Study Expert Advisory Member. “By better understanding this essential workforce’s experiences we can do more collectively to support them in their work.”  Youth-serving professionals and volunteers are invited to participate in the Power of Us Workforce Survey—a first of its kind study that seeks to know and understand more about the experiences of and pathways into the youth fields workforce. The data from the survey can help to inform policy, practice, and further research to better support the workforce. The Power of Us wants to better understand those who are still in these roles as well as those who left, in an effort to explore, define, and elevate this collective workforce and their work with youth. The survey is open to those who work with youth in any capacity outside of the regular school day in the last five years. This includes both paid staff and volunteers.  The Power of Us Workforce Survey is administered by the American Institutes for Research (AIR), and it is part of a larger Youth Fields Study, which was commissioned and funded by The Wallace Foundation as part of its mission to support and share effective ideas and practices. Make your voice heard and [take the survey](https://bit.ly/Search-Institute) today! #### Search Institute Author ## Recommended For You [![](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/LGBTQBlogLogo-2.png)](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/lgbtq-youth) [LGBTQ+](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/tag/lgbtq) [Developmental Relationships](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/tag/developmental-relationships) 4 Min Read ### [Research Update: The Crucial Role of Community Members in the Lives of LGBTQ Youth](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/lgbtq-youth) [searchinstitute January 22 2020](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/searchinstitute) [![Five adolescents walking together and smiling.](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hubfs/thriving-transactional-blog-image.png)](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/thriving-is-not-transactional) [Developmental Relationships](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/tag/developmental-relationships) [Youth Thriving](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/tag/youth-thriving) 2 Min Read ### [Thriving Is Not Transactional: Building Systems Where Youth and Communities Flourish Together](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/thriving-is-not-transactional) [Search Institute December 11 2025](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/search-institute) [![](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/iStock-1500376328-1.jpg)](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/mentoring-relationships-and-the-importance-of-racial-ethnic-identity) 4 Min Read ### [Mentoring Relationships and the Importance of Racial-Ethnic Identity](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/mentoring-relationships-and-the-importance-of-racial-ethnic-identity) [Gloria Stout October 07 2024](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/gloria-stout) ![search-footerlogo](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hubfs/search-footerlogo.png "search-footerlogo") ## Search Institute 2550 University Avenue West Suite 200N St. Paul, MN 55114 800.888.7828 612.376.8955 i[nfo@searchinstitute.org](mailto:info@searchinstitute.org) - [Research](https://searchinstitute.org/research) - [Solutions](https://searchinstitute.org/solutions) - [Insights](https://searchinstitute.org/insights) - [Funders & Partners](https://searchinstitute.org/funders-partners) - [About](https://searchinstitute.org/about) - [Blog](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/) - [Donate](https://searchinstitute.org/donate) - [Contact](https://searchinstitute.org/contact) - [Subscribe to our Newsletter](https://searchinstitute.org/subscribe-to-our-enewsletter) - [Cancellations, Returns & Refunds](https://searchinstitute.org/cancellations-returns-refunds) - [Public Records](https://searchinstitute.org/nonprofit-status-public-records) - [Permissions Request Form](https://survey.search-institute.org/s3/Permissions-Request-Form) - [Keep Connected](http://keepconnected.searchinstitute.org/) ©2024 Search Institute | [Terms of Use](https://www.search-institute.org/terms-of-use/) Search Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable corporation. 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