A New Generation of LeadersCreating Youth Leadership Institutes in Your Community

Jim Casey Youth Leadership Institute

• Rationale

• Core Competencies • Timeline

• Results

Customizing the National Model

• Planning and Development • Training Components

• Outcomes

ASPIRING Young Leaders Program

Origins of the ASPIRING Young Leaders Program

• Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) at Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative

• One young leader from each site annually

• Training helped participants blossom• Wouldn’t it be great to send more

than one• Finally started with a talk on the

beach• Hired an expert – YLI graduate

ASPIRING Young Leaders Program

Goal & ResultsTo build upon the strengths of youth who have experienced foster care & empower young leaders across the state to succeed.• Increase understanding about issues in

foster care• Develop leadership & advocacy skills • Create & have a network of relationships

with peers and supportive adults

National vs. State Training

Pre-Work

• Develop training components - Create agenda - Facilitation

- Decide on venue - Identify & Recruit young people• Applications & Interviews• Welcome packets (three weeks prior)• Transportation to training

Training Overview: Day 1

Theme: Personality and Relational Development

• MBTI Leadership Development (Trained Facilitator)• Objective: Young People have an

understanding of their personality style and learn to work and balance with others

Training Overview: Day 2

Theme: Advocacy • Scavenger Hunt: Overview of Programs (Young people

introduce themselves to staff around the office, learning more about the program)

• Terms and Language (Young people understand basic terms and language used in child welfare)

• Effective Leadership (Young people understand different leadership styles and learn how to work with each other)

• Strategic Sharing (Young people learn to share their story in a safe and meaningful way.

• Case Planning Engagement (Young people acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to lead their own case/life planning)

Training Overview: Day 3

Theme: Practice Skills

• Practice Panels (Young People put skills into practice & receive feedback)• Creating Bios (Young People have

bios for professional engagements)

Post Training -Follow up

• Alumni Network• Quarterly engagement events

(social & educational) • Youth Board Engagement • Advanced Training

Lessons LearnedChallenges

• Transportation• Commitment – from youth & staff/guardian• Size of group & No. of groups matters• Training POD leaders well –identifying

weaknesses & strategies to overcome• Learning disabilities/difficulty reading can be

challenging• Younger age = challenge for representation

at conferences out of state• Dealing with history

Lessons Learned Solutions

• List of participants given to POD leaders ahead of time to strategize –Tell participants to “check” history at door

(part of being a professional & a leader)• Add a learning disability/reading level

question to application• Find meaningful ways to keep younger

youth engaged locally• Discuss transportation issues during

interview

Lessons Learned Solutions

• Staff/guardians & youth need to specifically be told that this is a serious commitment

• Allow enough time for recruitment • Be very thorough with POD leaders

around expectations & allow for time to train them

• Talk candidly about POD leader strengths & weaknesses

Lessons Learned Funding Considerations

• Staff & consultant time – outreach, program & material development, implementation

• Material - binders, applications, “fun buckets”, certificates, pens, etc.

• Communications – brochures, website

• Incentives – prizes, stipends• Transportation – bus passes• Food – home-cooked, delivered,

snacks

Results

• Youth Board & other leadership experiences…• Works Wonders

Q & A

Jim Caseywww.jimcaseyyouth.org

Mike Penomichael.s.peno@wmich.edu

Tiffany Barbosatiffanie.barbosa@fosterforward.net

Liz Squibblsquibb@jimcaseyyouth.org