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YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

PARC SYMPOSIUM

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Our time together…

Through this session we will:• Better identify with youth and their

development needs• Understand Positive Youth Development as a

philosophy for engagement• Recognize potential partners in delivery• Take a look at barriers to effective engagement

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Who is in the room ?

Introductions

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AHHHHH Youth

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WE ALL KNOW THAT….

Youth are… sensation-seeking, less than optimal in planning and judgment, more in risk-taking and impulsiveness, less inclined to consider the consequences.

Youth need PYD opportunities when they are in active stages of development and when their needs can be met in safe spaces and places.

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What do Youth Need?

Mastery and achievement

Physical activity

Self-definition

Creative expression

Positive interactions with peers/adults

Meaningful participation

Structure and clear limits

Mastery & Achievement

Physical Activity

Self Definition

Creative Expressions

Positive Interactions

Structure and Clear Limits

Meaningful Participation

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Why PYD?

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Positive Youth Development is the process of preparing young people to participate in the opportunities of adolescence and adulthood through a coordinated and progressive series of activities and experiences that help them become socially, morally, emotionally, physically and cognitively competent.

PYD – A Definition

Adapted from the National Youth Development Centre Definitions of Youth Development as approved by the

Executive of the National Collaborative for Youth Members — 1998

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What Does PYD Look Like?

Safety and basic needs

Preparedness

Connectedness

Engagement

Positive Youth Development

What is the PYD Approach?

Traditional Youth Services

Focus on problems

Reactive

Targeted youth

Youth as recipients

Programs

Professional providers

Positive Youth Development

Focus on positive outcomes

Pro-active

All youth

Youth as active participants

Community response

Community members

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Agencies, individuals and organizations must work together to create more Youth Friendly Communities.

NO ONE CAN DO IT ALONE

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Building Capacity

Creating a circle of support for and with youth

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A Youth’s Community

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OVER AND OVER AGAIN

Young people need to be nurtured: 24 hours a day

For the first 20 years of their lives

In accordance with their developmental needs

Through a variety of supportive relationships, opportunities and programs

Source: Positive Youth Development Resource ManualACT for Youth – Upstate Center of Excellence

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PYD resonates…

Communicating the

Resiliency Attitude:

What is RIGHT with YOU

is more powerful than

what is WRONG with YOU.

( same for community)

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PYD IN ACTION

Embedded on needs, youth as assets with 5Cs as outcomes

Long-term commitment

Community-based approach

Youth voice ( hearing what they say)

ENGAGEMENT

Youth Engagement is the meaningful participation and sustained involvement of a young person in an activity, with a focus outside him or herself. The kind of activity can be almost anything – sports to social activism – and it can occur in any kind of setting.

(Centre of Excellence for Youth Engagement)

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Ladder of Youth Participation

Youth-initiated, shared decisions with adults

Youth-initiated and directed

Adult-initiated, shared decisions with youth

Consulted and informed

Assigned but informed

Tokenism Decoration Manipulation

Degrees of Participation

Non-Participation

Adapted from Hart, R. 1992

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BARRIERS TO YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

SELFvs

SYSTEMIC

SELF

EMOTIONAL NOISE –

WHAT CAN AFFECT HOW I WORK WITH YOUTH??

SYSTEMIC

WHAT BARRIERS WILL YOU FACE??

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How Did We Do?

We were hoping to:• Better identify with youth and their

development needs• Understand Positive Youth

Development as a philosophy for engagement

• Recognize potential partners in delivery

• Take a look at barriers to effective engagement

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Evaluation Time

Closing Comments