Leveraging Youth Skills and Passion to Make a Difference: Secrets of Successful YouthAdult Partnersh

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Leveraging Youth Skills and Passion to Make a
Difference Secrets of Successful Youth-Adult
Partnerships

• Kenneth R. Jones
• University of Kentucky
• Randyl Block
• Illinois Drug Education Alliance

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How Do We Perceive Todays Youth?
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It is easier to build strong children than to
repair broken men!--Frederick Douglass
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The Purpose of this Webinar is to

• Discuss the challenges and success in launching
  an initiative where youth serve as key
  decision-makers
• Review findings from current research
• Determine ways of leveraging youth skills and
  adult support as a means to promote youth-adult
  partnerships

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Background

• Many adults view teens as problems to be solved
  and not potential community leaders (Zeldin,
  2000 Gilliam Bales, 2001).
• A majority of todays youth (67) indicated that
  they dont have adequate opportunities to serve
  their communities (Americas Promise, 2006).
• Thirty-four percent of todays youth (34) do not
  believe they have the skill sets needed to be
  successful (Americas Promise, 2006).

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Literature Review

• Youth participation is perhaps the most
  innovative practice that has emerged from the
  positive youth development movement (Zeldin,
  Petrokubi, MacNeil, 2007).
• Youth involved as community partners can result
  in positive outcomes for youth, adults, as well
  as the communities they serve (Benson et al.,
  2006 Bowie, Bronte-Tinkew, 2008 Scheve,
  Perkins, Mincemoyer, 2005).

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Why Should We Consider This?
Youth Leadership
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Critical Elements of Youth-Adult Partnerships

• Equal Decision-Making
• Mutual Teaching and Experiential Learning
• Mutual Respect
• Community Obligation/Commitment to a Project
• Willingness to Share Power
• Communication
• Teamwork

Camino, 2000, 2005 Jones, 2006 Zeldin,
Petrokubi, MacNeil, 2007, 2008)
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Youth-Adult Relationships Continuum Model
Adult-Driven
Youth-Driven
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Youth-Adult Partnership
A fostered relationship between youth and adults
where both parties have equal potential in making
decisions, utilizing skills, mutual learning and
independently carrying out tasks to reach common
goals Jones, K. Perkins, D. (2005).
Determining the quality of youth-adult
relationship within community based programs.
Journal of Extension, 43(5). Available online
at http//www.joe.org/joe/2005october/a5.shtml
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Adult-Led vs. Youth-Led

• Adult-Led
• Low youth involvement
• High adult involvement
• High level of adult support
• Youth dependent upon adults
• Varied youth-adult interaction
• Majority of youth are younger, inexperienced

• Youth-Led
• High youth involvement
• Low adult involvement
• High level of adult support
• Youth demonstrate high levels of independence
• Low to moderate youth-adult interaction
• Majority of youth are older, experienced

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What weve discovered

• Youth have the capacity to address the problems
  that affect their communities (Innovation Center
  for Community Youth Development, 2003).
• Young people desire the chance to work with
  adults at various levels (Camino, 2005 Jones
  Perkins, 2006).
• Civically-engaged youth are not only empowered,
  but serve as an invaluable resource to
  communities (Perkins, Borden, Villarruel,
  2001).

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The Most Suitable Adult Partners

• Adults willing to
• Take on a more supportive role
• Share responsibilities/power
• Assist youth leadership when needed
• Encourage youth to lead projects when necessary
• (Jones Perkins, 2006 Zeldin, Petrokubi,
  MacNeil, 2007).

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Youth Partners

• Those who
• Have previous experience serving on a committee,
  council, etc.
• Possess comfort in making decisions on behalf of
  others
• Feel as though their efforts are valued by adults

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Youth-Adult Partnership
A fostered relationship between youth and adults
where both parties have equal potential in making
decisions, utilizing skills, mutual learning and
independently carrying out tasks to reach common
goals Jones, K. Perkins, D. (2005).
Determining the quality of youth-adult
relationship within community based programs.
Journal of Extension, 43(5). Available online
at http//www.joe.org/joe/2005october/a5.shtml
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Knowing Leads to Accountability

• What can be done to best support youth-adult
  partnerships and other youth leadership
  initiatives?

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Youth In Governance Project

• Five states participated
• States received grants funded in part by the
  Surdna Foundation National 4-H Council
• States were to implement projects that employed
  youth in leadership roles
• Site visits were conducted to assess the dynamics
  within local and state 4-H youth development
  offices
• Interviews were conducted with youth and adult
  participants, state 4-H program leaders and
  college administrators

Jones, K., Byer, K., Zeldin, S.(2008).
Youth-adult partnerships in community
decision-making. A national report. National 4-H
Council Chevy Chase, MD.
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Purpose of the Research

• Review theory on benefits outcomes of YAPs
• Identify challenges to implementing YAPs
• Identify goals and strategies used by staff that
  maximize the likelihood of YAPs being
  successfully integrated into community
  decision-making.
• Zeldin, R., Petrokubi, J., MacNeil, C.
  (2007).Youth-adult partnerships in community
  decision-making What does it take to engage
  adults in the practice? National Report. National
  4-H Council Chevy Chase, MD.

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Findings

• Several challenges to YAP implementation remain.
• There is often a resistance to change due to
  deep-seated loyalty of stakeholders.
• 4-HYD has had some success, due to committed
  county staff who rally behind the strengths that
  YAPs bring to youth and their communities.

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Findings

• Successful county staff were able to translate
  the purpose of YAPs into terms that other staff
  and volunteers understood.
• Adequate training is essential in shifting
  paradigms.
• There is a need to emphasize shared ownership.
• Infrastructure must be created to support YAPs.

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Findings

• Key Challenges when implementing YAPs
• Staffing
• Policies and Procedures
• Youth Participation
• Support from Administration
• Plans for Sustainability
• Obtaining Buy-in from All Stakeholders

Jones, K., Byer, K., Zeldin, S.(2008).
Youth-adult partnerships in community
decision-making. A national report. National 4-H
Council Chevy Chase, MD.
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Common Mistakes

• Expecting more out of youth than the adults
• Expecting too little from a young person
• Treating all youth the same (and not as
  individuals)
• Taking on the pressure of whether youth succeed
  or fail
• Not asking for help
• Others??

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Lessons Learned

• Administrative buy-in is critical
• Interesting projects are essential to
  sustainability
• Youth involved at all levels render the most
  success
• Efforts should be aligned with the goals of the
  organization

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Promising Practices

• A Youth-adult partnership should serve the
  overall mission of the organization.
• Allow youth to identify needs and then align YAP
  efforts with the needs of local communities.
• Recruit adults to serve in supportive roles and
  utilize their expertise.
• Creativity is required in executing programs and
  projects that interest youth/teens.
• Dont hesitate to collaborate.

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Case Study Example

• Randyl Block
• Youth Board Member
• Illinois Drug Education Alliance

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Thank You

• Kenneth R. Jones, Ph.D.
• Dept. of Community Leadership Development
• University of Kentucky
• 500 Garrigus Bldg.
• Lexington, KY 40505
• Ph. 859-257-3275
• Email kenrjones_at_uky.edu

• Randyl Block
• Youth Board Member
• Illinois Drug Education Alliance