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 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 each  Allows 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 change  Builds healthy relationships with Adults  Acquire knowledge and information  Engage in meaningful activities  Leadership 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 Partnerships  Youth Infusion  Trina Scott - Advocates for Youth –Phone:

“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 Scott Associate Director Health Equity and Youth Empowerment Briana Dixon Youth Activist Young Women of Color Leadership Council facebook.com/amplifyyourvoice twitter.com/AdvocatesTweets | twitter.com/AmplifyTweets |