Maximizing Impact: Strengthening Fiver’s Coaching Model for Youth Success
At Fiver, we’ve always believed that the strongest growth happens through relationships. Whether it’s a moment of encouragement from a trusted adult or a consistent check-in that helps a young person feel seen and supported, these one-on-one connections are at the heart of everything we do. That’s why we’re proud to share how Fiver is doubling down on our coaching model to provide more intentional, personalized support to youth across New York. Thanks to a Youth Service Improvement Grant from the William T. Grant Foundation, we’ve made major strides in formalizing and expanding the individualized guidance we offer—ensuring every participant receives the kind of support that can truly change the trajectory of their lives.
Strengthening Our Model
Fiver’s coaching model is a cornerstone of our long-term youth development approach. It’s built around the belief that young people thrive when they have a consistent adult in their corner—someone who listens, asks the right questions, helps them set goals, and shows up when it matters most. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all system; it’s a tailored, relationship-based framework that adapts to each young person’s needs, interests, and challenges.
In 2024, we set out to deepen the impact of that model. With support from the William T. Grant Foundation, we focused on improving the consistency and quality of our coaching across all program touchpoints. While one-on-one support was already a core part of Fiver’s DNA, we identified key areas for growth: enhancing staff training, streamlining internal procedures, and embedding inclusive, culturally responsive practices.
To lead this work, we partnered with Kai Kunkel, a social-emotional learning expert to collaborate with our Director of Youth Development to design and facilitate a six-part professional development series for our staff. The training covered a range of essential topics—including motivational interviewing, crisis response, trauma-informed practices, and inclusive family support. Each session gave our team the tools to better connect with youth and respond with empathy, clarity, and purpose.
In addition to group learning, Kai provided individualized coaching to staff and senior leadership, helping us integrate these practices into the organization’s culture. This personalized support reinforced what we aim to model for our youth: growth is ongoing, and support should be tailored, thoughtful, and grounded in real relationships.
Tools for Today and Tomorrow
One of the most exciting outcomes of this work is the launch of Fiver’s new Coaching Handbook—a living resource created to help current and future staff provide high-quality one-on-one support. Developed in collaboration with our Director of Youth Development, the handbook includes best practices, crisis protocols, reflective tools, and coaching strategies grounded in social-emotional development.
This renewed focus on individualized support also led to the creation of Fiver Connect—a referral and resource tool designed by our Director of Youth Development. Through Fiver Connect, participants and families can request support for services like mental health, housing, medical care, and more. It also gives our team deeper insight into each participant’s journey and strengthens communication, accountability, and follow-through. Together, these tools ensure no young person falls through the cracks—and that every Fiver feels supported year-round, not just at camp.
Impact of this Work
To better understand the strengths and needs of our program team, Fiver partnered with Hello Insight in early June 2025 to conduct a Staff Capacity Retrospective Survey with our full- and part-time program staff. The goal was to gain a broad view of staff confidence in delivering Positive Youth Development (PYD) experiences, as well as their perceptions of organizational support, professional growth, and day-to-day engagement. The findings affirmed the strength of our coaching model and the impact of our recent staff development efforts:
100% of Fiver staff reported increased confidence in delivering positive youth development (PYD) experiences after training—18% higher than the survey benchmark.
88% of staff now report high overall confidence in using PYD strategies in their work.
Confidence was especially strong in core areas of Fiver’s coaching model:
92% of staff felt confident engaging authentically with youth.
89% felt confident helping youth manage goals and challenge their growth.
Staff also reported feeling deeply supported in their roles:
94% felt they had the training needed to do their jobs well.
87% felt strong managerial support.
93% agreed they were meaningfully engaged in their own development as youth workers.
At a time when youth mental health and wellbeing are gaining long-overdue national attention, Fiver is proud to be deepening the kind of relationship-based support we’ve prioritized for over two decades. This work—supported by our funders, consultants, and dedicated staff—has strengthened the foundation of our coaching model, making it more consistent, responsive, and inclusive for the youth we serve.
