Importance of Youth Involvement June 2, 2015 Amy Gorn, RurAL CAP For Alaska Native Youth Success RurAL CAP

Shifting the Focus Negative Focus Positive Focus Problems What’s wrong with you? Risk Factors Deficits Hardships Past Potential, Interests What’s right about you? What interests you? Protective Factors or Resiliency Assets Positive Youth Development Future: how to move forward

Strengths Perspective Terms Resiliency Positive Youth Development

WHERE? With WHO? DOING WHAT? Resiliency-Building Asks Three Questions

What makes it a positive experience Resiliency Principles ( Youth Development ) Positive Setting Youth Advisor Relevant Meaningful Skill Building

WHERE : Positive Setting “Climate” Friendly, Safe, Respectful Program Structure with consistent & fair rules High expectations Conflict managed, promotes positive values Family-feeling: “a place to belong...”

WHO: Someone Who Connects with Youth Supportive & Trusting Relationship Qualities: Maintains positive communication Keeps a sense of humor Relates to youth culture Guides not dictates Offers challenge as needed

WHAT: Relevant Meaningful Activities Intentional learning: activities with purpose Experiences combine youth voice while building new skills & critical thinking: Life Skills: Subsistence/Culture Communication skills Decision making skills Activities reflect culture and expand youth horizons Engage community members as possible

Relevant Activities Moving – Creating – Building Think ENERGY!!! Support & encourage emerging talents/skills Work together to tackle important issues Youth Voice: Youth can be powerful and effective messengers. Prepare & empower them!

HOW to increase participation... TIP: Don’t do the planning for them. Let them make mistakes, that’s how they learn! Youth advisor’s job: Listen, listen, listen! What’s important to them? Support youth, to plan, carry out and evaluate their own projects & activities! Encourage projects that help the community

Activity What does a Youth-empowered Resiliency-based program look like? Setting Youth Advisor Relevant Activities

Health FairsLitter patrols Gardening Community clean-ups Native dancing Hiking / Camping Exercise groups Volunteer for elders Outdoor & campingRead to young children Environment/Climate Change Peer-to-Peer Education Healthy Relationships HIV/AIDS, FASD Teen Pregnancy Tobacco Alcohol and other Drugs Sample Youth Activities

Ice Fishing Noorvik Pilot Station

Huslia Garden Project

Dancing & Drumming

What makes a community a good place to live in? Who do you go to for support? What should adults do to help youth become successful and healthy? What recommendations do you have for youth programs?

Which do you think is most important, why? Three Core Principles of Effective Youth Programs Positive Setting Youth Advisor Intentional Meaningful Skill Building

ENGAGEMENT: reflect, make choices, set goals & make plans INTERACTION: partner with adults, mentors, small groups, sense of belonging SUPPORTIVE Environment: reframe conflict, encouragement, build new skills, welcoming atmosphere SAFE Environment: Healthy food & drinks, physical space is safe & free of health hazards, psychological & emotional safety. Youth Pyramid of Program Quality David P. Weikert Center for Youth Program Quality

Youth Voice & Choice Planning & Reflection Building Community Scaffolding for Success Reframing Conflict Structure and Clear Limits Sample Positive Youth Development Training Topics David P. Weikert Center for Youth Program Quality

Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP) Healthy People, Sustainable Communities, Vibrant Cultures Amy Gorn (800) , ext