Youth Adult Partnerships North Carolina 4-H & NCACC Youth Council Project

4-H is… The youth development program of NC Cooperative Extension. Is in all 100 counties in NC. For youth ages A community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. Is serving ~240,000 youth in NC.

YAP Objectives: *Identify skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed to participate in successful Youth & Adult Partnerships (YAP) *Identify what youth can bring to YAP *Identify what adults can bring to YAP

YAP What is a Youth & Adult Partnership? Definition: “When adults and youth come together in a positive environment to take advantage of the strengths that each group brings to the table as they strive toward an end result that would have been impossible without collaboration from the two unique groups”

YAP Contributions….. Youth bring:Adults bring: -Energy-Experience -Fresh perspectives-Power -Knowledge of youth-Connections -Sense of community to institutions -Legitimacy/credibility -Cause-based passion

YAP Benefits: For Youth:For Adults: -Ownership-Changes in -Decreased risk attitudes behaviors-Greater -Increased status confidence -Enhanced leadershipin youth & communication skills -Broader career choices -Increased competencies

YAP Youth are Resources Youth can help adults in planning, implementing, and evaluating work. Programs and activities are FOR and WITH youth.

YAP Youth are Partners Youth and adults share decision-making power. Program and Activities are WITH youth.

YAP Tips for Working with Youth as Partners *Don’t expect more from youth than you would from adults *Treat youth as individuals; don’t make one youth represent all youth *Remember, your role isn’t parenting

YAP Advice from youth to adults : *Treat us with respect *If invited to be a part of an organization, we’d like to be as fully involved as adult members * Know that we are capable and can do most things adults can

YAP More advice from youth to adults: *We are willing to be involved and can commit time and energy to the project or organization *Invite questions and answer willingly so that we can feel comfortable to ask about things we don’t understand *Please help us if we need help (but ask first!)

YAP Maintaining Youth & Adult Partnerships *Adults need to be willing to share their power & responsibility *Youth need to be willing to gain power & take on responsibility *Everyone needs to forget everything they have ever thought about youth and adults as separate groups and start treating them the way they treat their peers. *Both youth and adults need the skills to work together successfully!

YAP Utilizing Youth Presenting to Community Groups Fundraising A Fresh Voice on Boards and Councils Event Planning Workshop Facilitation Mentoring Younger Youth Anywhere You Use Adult Input and Opinion, Include Youth!

YAP EXAMPLE

YAP QUESTIONS