15 Points

1. 15 Points Successfully Involving Youth in Decision-Making

2. Point 1 – Define Decision-Making • Making choices about action • Give young people the chance to participate in the decisions that affect their lives • Making Decision involves: • Planning activities • Researching alternatives • Recruiting people • Directing action • Evaluating experiences • Advocating for change • Mentoring one another

3. Decision-Making is Changing • In the past, organizational decision-making was a formal process, voting when the chairperson called for a vote. • Involving youth in decision-making the process can be more dynamic, involving internet surveys and discussion groups. • Decisions-making can be big and small – they happen everyday, everywhere.

4. Decision-Making Can be Big & Small • Examples of Decision-making 1. E-mail to a supervisor 2. Involvement in planning a town hall meeting 3. Participation in a hiring committee • “There is no surer way to teach responsible decision-making than to involve young people in decision-making that is bigger than themselves – that is, community decision-making. That community can be a youth group, a classroom, an organization, a neighborhood, a city, or a nation.”

5. Does Every Person Have a Voice? • Four Types of Decision-Making • Consensus – everyone must agree • Top-down – A “chain of command”, delegates to make decisions, take action • Majority Rule – greatest number of people makes the choice for the group • No Structure – decisions are made with no specific process, people make individual decisions

6. Decision-Making Model • Define the opportunity or problem • Identify the possible alternatives/choices • Select a preferred course of action • Implement the action • Evaluate the results

7. Basic Assumptions about Youth in Decision-Making • Involvement should strive towards equal partnership • Create a culture that honors youth as full members of our community • Involvement should include: • Right to raise issues • Challenge assumptions • Provide input • Conduct research • Vote on decisions • Reflect on experience

8. Basic Assumptions…(continued) • Decision-making doesn’t just happen in meetings • Between meetings • In subcommittees • In social gatherings • Phone conversations email, text messages

9. Budgets: How activities are funded Policy-making: Youth perspective for rules, legislation that affect youth, families, communities Research: Youth identify issues that affect them Curriculum design: What will meet their needs? Technology: Youth assets, web design, technology assistance Evaluation: Offer youth perspective Grant-making: Offer youth perspective; learn valuable skills Ways to Involve Youth

10. Point 2 – Know Why You Want to Involve Youth • Involving young people in decision-making… • Helps them feel more connected with their communities • Leads to positive feelings about belonging • Promotes community ownership • Encourages civic engagement and dedication to others Youth today…leaders tomorrow

11. Youth are uniquely qualified to say what works for young people Programs become more effective when youth are involved (teaching, mentoring) Youth energy/action brings groups to life! Young people demand action (discussion, brainstorming, skill building) Often decisions are made by adults – youth deserve to have their voice heard! Meaningful opportunities offer learning experiences for youth & adults Youth excitement can energize the community Youth involvement leads to community engagement, more young people may stay and work in your community Common Motivations for Involving Youth

12. Develop a Vision, Goals & Objectives • Involve youth in the process • What is the Vision for youth involvement? Example: “ABC organization will work to sustain democracy in our community by engaging youth as leaders in all our activities.” • State yourGoals • Goals sets a benchmark for your organization • Goals should be realistic and attainable • Define yourObjectives • Specific steps to reach your Goals • Create specific objectives for each activity

13. Here’s an Example… • Goals: The Board of Directors of ABC organization will be restructured to ensure that one-quarter of its members are young people. • Objectives: • Adults will be trained in how to partner with youth as equals by October of this year. • All youth members will be conferred with full membership on the Board. • The organization coordinator will devote 1/10th of her time monthly to supporting youth members. • The agency will commit 2.5 percent of the annual budget for board and staff development in this area.

14. Point 3 – Assess Your Organization • Conduct an Organizational Assessment based on the 15 Points (p. 39-42) • Do you have “Buy-In” from your members to involve youth? • Consider conducting youth-adult one-on-one conversations • Discuss member’s hopes & fears about involving youth

15. Two General Approaches Involve young people directly in an existing adult body. Add board positions for youth members Set up an adjunct body consisting of young people only. How will the group provide input to the primary governing body? What staff support is available to keep the youth group functioning well? Point 4 – Determine Your Approach

16. Determine Your Approach (continued) • Discuss the pros and cons: whether to add youth to an existing group or create an adjunct youth body • Involve youth in the decision • Remember to consider the group’s Vision and Goals • Be open to making changes in group’s structure

17. Point 5 – Overcome Organizational Barriers • Are there limiting attitudes & logistical challenges that prevent youth from fully participating in your organization? • Define the Barriers – what barriers will likely pop up? • Do you need to adjust your by-laws? • Do members hold stereotypical views about youth? What are your beliefs? • Is the meeting schedule and location for meetings flexible? • Language – do you use jargon, abbreviations? • Does your group have a recruitment plan?

18. Point 6 – Overcome Personal Barriers • What do we expect from young people? • Do we expect excellence & initiative or do we coddle or control them? • TheRole of Power – adults have more power & resources than youth • “Adultism” – Behavior, action, language or limitation placed on youth people’s rights that does not afford them the respect they deserve. • Could you see a young person as a partner or only someone to mentor? Are there things you could learn from a young person?

19. Point 7 – Address Legal Issues • Does your organization have any legal limitations for involving youth? • Does your organization need to rewrite by-laws, goals and objectives to include youth members? • Will youth members be voting members?

20. Point 8 – Recruit Young People • Steps for Effective Recruitment: • Be clear about what you want and develop a job description • Define a recruitment process • Recruit candidates • Select candidates • Notify those accepted and rejected • Document and evaluateyour process

21. What Should You Look For? • Watch for over-committed youth, do they have the time to give to your organization or are they only looking for a resume building opportunity? • Readiness for your organization • Confidence, assertiveness to speak up among adults • Readiness for responsibility • Willingness to work • Motivation for the job, passion for the cause • Connections with other youth, can help with recruitment

22. Point 9 – Create a Strong Orientation Process • Create a letter of agreement, including responsibilities • Offer an orientation session • Create opportunities for ongoing orientation/training • Conduct orientation for parents/guardians • Find an Adult Ally for youth members • Encourage youth to ask questions or ask for help if needed

23. Point 10 – Develop Young Leaders • Essentials of Supporting Young Leaders • Identify the basic skills needed to do the job • What training is needed? Create a training plan • Choose learning/training methods • Reflect, evaluate lessons learned • Sustain interest through ongoing support

24. Point 11 – Provide Intergenerational Training • Bridge the gap between adults and young people so they can work more effectively together • Help adults remember what is was like to be a young person • Helps youth respect where adults are coming from • Helps people really listen to each other • “What do we have in common” rather than “how are we different?”

25. Point 12 – Facilitate Successful Meetings • Create interactive agendas, how can we incorporate interactive activities in the agenda? • What roles do we want specific young people and adults to play during the meeting?

26. Making Meetings More Interactive • Consider time, space, materials • Get off to a good start with check-in questions • Brainstorm • Talk in pairs • Use small groups • Go-around at closing • Reflect how the meeting or an activity went • Meet as committees

27. Point 13 – Foster Youth/Adult Partnerships “Young people are learning about life in everything that they do, including the work they do with you. Your work together will be more successful if you get to know the whole young person – the one he or she is outside of his or her role with your organization. Strong, respectful relationships with adults and with each other give young people the safety and confidence to lead in their communities and transform their own lives.” (15 Points: Successfully Involving Youth in Decision Making)

28. It’s About Relationships… “All successful community change programs work because of people’s relationships with each other.”

29. Let young people be in charge – the best way for young people to learn is by doing. Remember that you do not always know better Remember the importance of involving parents Be consistent and follow through with what you say Never believe that young people don’t have an opinion Speak to young people with respect Remember to have fun! Tips for Cultivating Partnerships

30. Point 14 – Develop a Mentoring Plan • Mentors as Allies – Allies support and learn from the person they mentor • Mentoring is a necessity for new members • Designate current members for new youth members to help coordinate, troubleshoot and facilitate the young person’s involvement • Follow-through

31. Point 15 – Sustain Youth Involvement • To Sustain Youth Involvement: • Ongoing Support • Reflection – what’s working • Evaluation – survey, observation, conversation • Celebration & Appreciation

32. Information for this presentation obtained from: 15 Points, Successfully Involving Youth in Decision-Making. For more information: Youth on Board 58 Day Street Somerville, MA 02144 (617) 623-9900 x1242 info@youthonboard.org www.youthonboard.org For more information in Iowa contact: Iowa Collaboration for Youth Development www.icyd.org Presentation prepared with permission from Youth on Board by Marilyn Alger, MSW For more information…