Transcript Slide 1

YOUTH ADVISORY BOARDS
A training and overview for Extension volunteer administrators
Purpose of Youth Advisory Boards
• Maintain grassroots connection
• Provide oversight for whole 4-H & Youth Development
Program, including output and outcome programs
• Ensure youth programs are relevant to target audience
• Review, assess and advise CEA in the overall county 4-H
& youth program direction
• Annually review 4-H enrollment to determine direction
of program
Why Youth Advisory Boards?
• Expectations developed by adults
without youth involvement set youth
up for failure (Natriello & Dornbusch,
1984).
• Program Area Committees, comprised
predominantly of adults, that attempt
to predict educational programs for
youth will have far less impact because
youth are not represented.
Why Youth Advisory Boards?
• The ability of young people to
communicate well, solve problems, and
work effectively with others will increase
significantly
• Youth and adult partnerships have
revealed that youth involved in boards
show improvements in:
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Communication
Interpersonal
Problem-solving
Understanding-organizational skills
Source: American Youth Policy Forum, 1999
Why Youth Advisory Boards?
• Youth programs will be more
successful and have a greater impact
• Yates and Youniss (1999) note that one
adult on a board of directors that
involves both youth and adults said:
– “If you can get folks to sit at the table with
a group of committed young people,
transformation will occur.”
– “The key is to be dealing with real issues
for youth.”
Why Youth Advisory Boards?
• Young people will mature and become more
responsible and compassionate because they are
involved in “caring for” other young people
• Bronfenbrenner (1979) suggested that youth that
are in a caring mode for other youths develop in all
areas of their lives. This includes:
– Jobs
– School
– Relationships
– Community
– Health
This “caring” is exactly the role youth will serve in through the
county youth board as they develop, implement, evaluate, and
interpret youth educational programs in their counties.
Meeting Requirements
• Requirements:
– Meet face-to-face at least twice annually
– Utilize distance technologies for additional
communication
Membership
• 8-15 people
• Representative of county demographics
and geographical areas
• Majority youth membership
– Ratio of 3:1, youth:adults
• Serve a two-year term with membership
rotation plan in place
• Youth, ages 12-18 years of age
• Think beyond the 4-H program
Characteristics of Members
Youth
• Represent different
schools, including
home school
• Come from different
parts of the county and
different
Commissioner
precincts
Adults
• One adult for every
three youth
• Passionate about
serving young people
Member Recruitment
Youth
• Selected by CEA
• Established as a new
officer position for
each club
• Selected from County
4-H Council by Council
members
Adults
• Selected by CEA from
the community to meet
needs of committee
• Selected from County
Volunteer Leaders
Association by
members
Programming
• Annually review
– County youth enrollment
– Program evaluations
– Needs assessment
– Issue Identification Action Plan
• Identify and prioritize output and
outcome programming needs, goals
and opportunities for coming year
Issue Validation
• Validate youth issues every 4 years
• Conduct issue identification process
with other PACs
What’s the difference?
• Volunteer Leaders Association
– Identify training needs and provide training
for volunteers
– Provide leadership opportunities for
volunteers
– Serve on event/activity committees
– Assist in the development of resources to
support program
– Assist in planning, implementing & evaluation
4-H events and activities
– Interpret 4-H program to public
What’s the difference?
• County 4-H Council
– Identify training needs and provide training
for youth
– Provide leadership opportunities for youth
– Plan county-wide community service project
or support “one day 4-H”
– Support National 4-H Week
– Assist in planning, promoting and
implementing programs
– Study problems, activities and concerns of
youth
4-H & Youth Advisory Board
Adult Leaders Association
4-H Council
Leaders/Parents
4-H Clubs
Committees and task forces for
management of events and activities
– Stock show concession stand,
county camp, awards banquet, etc.
Catalysts for Success
• Establishing a Youth-Adult Partnership
• Bringing definition to youth and adult
Adults Need to Remember:
• Don’t expect more from a youth than
you would from another adult.
• Treat young people as individuals; don’t
make one youth represent all youth.
• Be careful about interruptions when
young people are speaking.
• It’s okay to ask for help when you don’t
know how to do something.
Youth Need to Remember:
• Criticism doesn’t necessarily equate to
condescension.
• Adults may not be aware of how
capable youth are.
• Adult will feel responsible for the
success or failure of the project.
• It’s okay to ask for help when you don’t
know how to do something.
Effective Youth-Adult Partnerships
• Each person is able to contribute
his/her unique talents, skills and
knowledge
• Youth and adults share equally in the
decision making process.
• Each group is treated with respect and
dignity.
Catalysts for Success
• Well-planned meetings
• Relationships built – YOUTH-ADULT
PARTNERHSIP
• CEA embraces Youth Board with positive
attitude
• Getting a core group of youth & adults
together
QUESTIONS?