15 Points

Successfully Involving Youth in Decision-Making

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:

1. Planning activities2. Researching alternatives3. Recruiting people4. Directing action5. Evaluating experiences6. Advocating for change7. Mentoring one another

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.

Decision-Making Can be Big & Small

Examples of Decision-making1. E-mail to a supervisor2. Involvement in planning a town hall meeting3. 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.”

Does Every Person Have a Voice?

Four Types of Decision-Making

1. Consensus – everyone must agree

2. Top-down – A “chain of command”, delegates to make decisions, take action

3. Majority Rule – greatest number of people makes the choice for the group

4. No Structure – decisions are made with no specific process, people make individual decisions

Decision-Making Model

1. Define the opportunity or problem

2. Identify the possible alternatives/choices

3. Select a preferred course of action

4. Implement the action5. Evaluate the results

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:

1. Right to raise issues2. Challenge assumptions3. Provide input4. Conduct research5. Vote on decisions6. Reflect on experience

Basic Assumptions…(continued)

Decision-making doesn’t just happen in meetings

1. Between meetings2. In subcommittees3. In social gatherings4. Phone conversations

email, text messages

Ways to Involve Youth

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

Point 2 – Know Why You Want to Involve Youth

Involving young people in decision-making…

1. Helps them feel more connected with their communities

2. Leads to positive feelings about belonging

3. Promotes community ownership

4. Encourages civic engagement and dedication to others

Youth today…leaders tomorrow

Common Motivations for Involving Youth

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

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 your Goals1. Goals sets a benchmark for your

organization2. Goals should be realistic and attainable Define your Objectives1. Specific steps to reach your Goals2. Create specific objectives for each

activity

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:1. Adults will be trained in how to partner with youth as

equals by October of this year.2. All youth members will be conferred with full

membership on the Board.3. The organization coordinator will devote 1/10th of her

time monthly to supporting youth members.4. The agency will commit 2.5 percent of the annual

budget for board and staff development in this area.

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

Point 4 – Determine Your Approach

Two General Approaches

1. Involve young people directly in an existing adult body.

Add board positions for youth members

2. 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?

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

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?

Point 6 – Overcome Personal Barriers

What do we expect from young people? Do we expect excellence & initiative or do we

coddle or control them? The Role 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?

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?

Point 8 – Recruit Young People

Steps for Effective Recruitment:

1. Be clear about what you want and develop a job description

2. Define a recruitment process

3. Recruit candidates4. Select candidates5. Notify those accepted

and rejected6. Document and

evaluate your process

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

Point 9 – Create a Strong Orientation Process

1. Create a letter of agreement, including responsibilities

2. Offer an orientation session

3. Create opportunities for ongoing orientation/training

4. Conduct orientation for parents/guardians

5. Find an Adult Ally for youth members

6. Encourage youth to ask questions or ask for help if needed

Point 10 – Develop Young Leaders

Essentials of Supporting Young Leaders

1. Identify the basic skills needed to do the job

2. What training is needed? Create a training plan

3. Choose learning/training methods

4. Reflect, evaluate lessons learned

5. Sustain interest through ongoing support

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?”

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?

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

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)

It’s About Relationships…

“All successful community change programs work because of people’s relationships with each other.”

Tips for Cultivating Partnerships

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!

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

Point 15 – Sustain Youth Involvement

To Sustain Youth Involvement:

1. Ongoing Support2. Reflection – what’s

working3. Evaluation –

survey, observation, conversation

4. Celebration & Appreciation

For more information… Information for this

presentation obtained from: 15 Points, Successfully

Involving Youth in Decision-Making. For more information:Youth on Board58 Day StreetSomerville, MA 02144(617) 623-9900 x1242

For more information in Iowa contact:

Iowa Collaboration for Youth Developmentwww.icyd.org

Presentation prepared with permission from Youth on Board by Marilyn Alger, MSW