Derek Peterson is the founder of Integrative Youth Development (IYD), which is a measurable, meaningful, and memorable method to impact the life of one child/youth, and all children and youth. His work has been engaging and supporting individuals, families, schools, and communities for over 30 years.
While Derek has held "big" jobs, with a lot of responsibility, he has always built 20% of his work time into working directly with youth. Derek is one of the youth serving professionals who still plans and delivers student retreats, is comfortable in ANY and ALL youth settings, and can make the shift to work alongside local, state, provincial, and national elected officials to shape and form policy.
Derek's community engagement work is in the No Child Left Behind Legislation and has been highlighted by the Harvard Education Review, He has also been recognized as the "Prevention Professional of the Year" and "Educator of the Year" in Alaska.
Today, Derek is the Child/Youth Advocate for the Institute for Community and Adolescent Resilience (ICAR-US). ICAR-US does IYD work for numerous communities and school districts throughout the US, Canada, and the world. Derek has long term contractual work with the Arizona School Board Association, the Yukon-Koyukuk School District, the International Institute for Children's' Rights and Development, the Ministry of Child and Family Development in Canada, Strategies, in California, and the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault. ‘
He guides efforts to merge young development research with the attitudes, cultures and values found within local communities.