how schools and communities can better serve young people building effective youth-adult...
TRANSCRIPT
How Schools and Communities Can Better Serve Young People
Building Effective Youth-Adult Partnerships
WHAT WE KNOW
Mississippi Facts
Learning Objectives
1. To identify benefits, barriers, and effective strategies for youth-adult partnerships in programmatic efforts
2. To recognize one’s own values and perceptions regarding youth-adult partnerships
3. To assist participants in gaining additional skills for integrating youth-adult partnerships in their daily efforts
Why partner with youth?
Organizations are more sustainable
Links to Research on Resiliency– Protective factors for youth– Contributions to one’s environment and community
Youth have the RIGHT to be involved!
Youth Development and TPP
Encourage youth to
protect themselves
Abstain or postpone
sexual activity
Obtain and use
contraception
Encourage delayed
childbearing
Youth ResiliencyYouth Resiliency
Clarify life goals Emotional support Constructive activity Achievement
What is a Youth-Adult Partnership?
Integrates youth’s realistic perspective with professional adult’s experiences
Offers each party the opportunity to suggest and make decisions
Recognizes and values the contribution of eachAllows youth and adults to work in full
partnership envisioning, developing, implementing, and evaluating programs
Youth-Adult Partnership Definition
They are not ways to hide the fact that programs are designed, developed and run by adults
Tokenism is not partnership Having youth around with no clear role Assigning youth tasks that adults do not want to do Having youth make appearances without training Having one youth on a board or council
What a YAP is NOT!
From Youth Infusion
Spectrum of Attitudes
Adults know what is best for young people and control situations in which they allow them to be involved
Spectrum of Attitudes:Youth as Objects
Adults allow young people to take part in decision-making because they think the experience will be “good for them”
Spectrum of Attitudes:Youth as Recipients
Adults respect young people as having something significant to offer now, recognizing the greater impact youth bring to a project. Youth are encourage to become involved.
Spectrum of Attitudes:Youth as Partners
For Adults?Benefits of an Effective YAP
Experience the competence of youth first hand and begin to perceive young people as legitimate, crucial contributors.
Find their commitment and energy enhanced by working with youth.
Understand the needs and concerns of youth. Receive fresh ideas from different perspectives. Develop more relevant and responsive programming and
services. Share knowledge. Increase creativity. Break down stereotypes
Adults…
For Youth?Benefits of an Effective YAP
Youth
Gain experience and confidence Promotes healthy behavior changeBuilds healthy relationships with AdultsAcquire knowledge and informationEngage in meaningful activitiesLeadership opportunities
For Schools and Organizations?
Benefits of an Effective YAP
Young people help clarify and to the mission. bring focus.
More connected and responsive to youth in the community, leading to programming improvements.
Greater value on inclusion and representation and see programs benefiting when multiple and diverse voices participate in making decisions.
Youth's making decisions helps convince funders on meaningful youth development and/or involvement.
Schools and Organizations…
Strengths of Youth-Adult Partnerships
Schools and Organizations:– Assistance with Mission clarification– Increased connection and responsiveness to youth in the
community– Demonstrated commitment to youth development.
Adults:– Experience the competence of youth first hand;– Understand the needs and concerns of young people; and– Receive fresh ideas and different perspectives.
Youth– Build leadership and employment skills;– Build relationship with caring adults in a professional setting;– Engage in meaningful and purposeful activities.
Barriers & Strategies
Example: The Urban Retreat
Briana Dixon
Tools You Can Use
Tips for Working with Youth
Tips for Working with Adults
Additional Resources
Peer Education, Youth Development, and Youth-Adult Partnershipshttp://www.advocatesforyouth.org/peereducation.htm
Youth Infusion http://www.youthinfusion.com/YIMain.html
Trina Scott - Advocates for Youth – Phone: 202.419.3420 – [email protected]
“Much education today is monumentally ineffective. All too often we are giving
young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plants.”
~John W. Gardner~
Brainstorm of Strategies
Practice!
Trina ScottAssociate Director
Health Equity and Youth Empowerment
[email protected] Dixon
Youth ActivistYoung Women of Color
Leadership Council
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