1. yOUTH eNGAGEMENT: mAKING iT hAPPEN

2. gOALS for tODAY… Understand the role of adults as partners and allies with youth + Develop a greater understanding of meaningful youth engagement + Provide tools and strategies to successfully engage youth Feeling confident that youth engagement is important and that you can play a role!

3. a fEW aCTIVITIES… involving play dough and tick boxes

4. TermWhat it is…What it is not… TermWhat it is…What it is not… Youth engagement Youth feeling empowered as partners to make decisions Youth having little to no influence or decision- making power Youth/adult partnerships Youth and adults having equal control and accountability in the project Adults stepping back and surrender all power and responsibility Adult ally Adults acting as teachers and learners; Power with youth Power over youth Youth Untapped resources within communities Youth arent problems that need to be solved yOUTH eNGAGEMENT vOCABULARY…

5. yOUTH eNGAGEMENT… Empowering all youth as valued partners in addressing and making decisions about issues that affect them personally and/or that they believe to be important.

6. its about pARTNERSHIPS… Youth engagement Youth engagement Youth– Adult partnerships Adult- initiated and shared decision making Assigned but informed Consulted and informed Youth-initiated and directed The New Mentality

7. gETTING it sTARTED and kEEPING it gOING… The New Mentality

8. sTARTING to tHINK aBOUT yOUR rOLE… Youth-Adult Engagement Qualitative Report Card Work on Definitions section

9. aDULT aLLIES aRE… Brainstorm the characteristics of an adult ally

10. a wORD about aDULT aLLIES… yOUTH fRIENDLY oPEN mINDED uNDERSTANDING tRUTHFUL hELPFUL eNCOURAGING nOWLEDGABLE gENUINE aPPROACHABLE gOOD LISTENER eASY gOING mEANINGFUL eNERGETIC nON-jUDGEMENTAL tHOUGHTFUL

11. fOUR pILLARS of yOUTH eNGAGEMENT… Respect Listen Understand Communicate Source: Centre of Excellence for Youth Engagement

12. bARRIERS and oBSTACLES to mEANINGFUL yOUTH eNGAGMENT… What are they?

13. bARRIERS and oBSTACLES to mEANINGFUL yOUTH eNGAGEMENT… Lack of organizational support Under-investment of time and resources Poor logistics Unclear roles and objectives Lack of training or understanding YE practice Little or No recognition of youth contribution of time and input

14. tOP 10 tIPS to mAKE it wORK! What are they?

15. tOP 10 tIPS to mAKE it wORK! 1.Take time to really LISTEN 2.Welcome ideas and validate opinions 3.Allow youth to make mistakes 4.Allow yourself to make mistakes 5.Balance the power 6.Hold realistic expectations 7.Never underestimate the potential of youth 8.Be real with young people 9.Practice what you preach 10.Treat youth with respect

16. oNE lAST aCTIVITY…

17. and a few hELPFUL links… Visit: www.onthepoint.ca www.daretodreamprogram.ca www.thenewmentality.ca Ready, Set, Engage! by Nancy Pereira of the New Mentality A step-by-step guide to Youth Engagement in the Child and Youth Mental Health sector Erin Smith,Youth Engagement Coordinator The Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health at CHEO ersmith@cheo.on.ca