youth engagement: making it happen. goals for today… understand the role of adults as partners and...
TRANSCRIPT
yOUTH eNGAGEMENT: mAKING iT hAPPEN
gOALS for tODAY…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!
a fEW aCTIVITIES…a fEW aCTIVITIES…
involving play dough and tick boxesinvolving play dough and tick boxes
Term What it is… What it is not…
Term What 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 aren’t problems that need to be solved
yOUTH eNGAGEMENT vOCABULARY…yOUTH eNGAGEMENT vOCABULARY…
yOUTH eNGAGEMENT…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.”
it’s about pARTNERSHIPS…it’s 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
gETTING it sTARTED and kEEPING it gOING…gETTING it sTARTED and kEEPING it gOING…
The New Mentality
sTARTING to tHINK aBOUT sTARTING to tHINK aBOUT yOUR rOLE…yOUR rOLE…
Youth-Adult Engagement Qualitative Report Card
Work on Definitions section
aDULT aLLIES aRE…aDULT aLLIES aRE…
Brainstorm the
characteristics of an adult ally
a wORD about aDULT aLLIES…a wORD about aDULT aLLIES…
yOUTH fRIENDLYoPEN mINDEDuNDERSTANDINGtRUTHFULhELPFUL
eNCOURAGINGnOWLEDGABLEgENUINEaPPROACHABLEgOOD LISTENEReASY gOINGmEANINGFULeNERGETICnON-jUDGEMENTALtHOUGHTFUL
fOUR pILLARS of yOUTH fOUR pILLARS of yOUTH eNGAGEMENT…eNGAGEMENT…
Respect Listen Understand Communicate
Source: Centre of Excellence for Youth Engagement
bARRIERS and oBSTACLES to bARRIERS and oBSTACLES to mEANINGFUL mEANINGFUL
yOUTH eNGAGMENT…yOUTH eNGAGMENT…
What are they?
bARRIERS and oBSTACLES to bARRIERS and oBSTACLES to mEANINGFUL yOUTH eNGAGEMENT…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
tOP 10 tIPS to mAKE it wORK!tOP 10 tIPS to mAKE it wORK!
What are they?
tOP 10 tIPS to mAKE it wORK!tOP 10 tIPS to mAKE it wORK!1. Take time to really LISTEN2. Welcome ideas and validate opinions3. Allow youth to make mistakes4. Allow yourself to make mistakes5. Balance the power6. Hold realistic expectations7. Never underestimate the potential of youth8. Be real with young people9. Practice what you preach10. Treat youth with respect
oNE lAST aCTIVITY…oNE lAST aCTIVITY…
and a few hELPFUL links…and a few hELPFUL links… Visit:
www.onthepoint.cawww.daretodreamprogram.cawww.thenewmentality.caReady, Set, Engage! by Nancy Pereira of the New MentalityA step-by-step guide to Youth Engagement in the Child and Youth Mental Health sector
Erin Smith,Youth Engagement CoordinatorThe Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health at CHEO