TA Partnership Newsletter — September 2009
Youth Matter!
Meaningful Youth Involvement in Systems of Care: Tips to Help New Communities Get Started
The work of engaging young people in decisions that affect their lives is important and exciting; however, it is not always easy. In an effort to be on track, it is common for newly funded systems of care communities to eagerly focus on recruiting youth, often with no clear purpose or strategy for doing so. In some cases, well-meaning adults begin their youth involvement efforts by focusing intensely on recruitment. Some communities struggle for months without making any notable progress in developing a plan. Regardless of where your community falls on this spectrum, you would benefit from knowing some common pitfalls to avoid as well as recommended pointers for getting started. This tip sheet is designed to help you get your youth involvement efforts started on the right track. As you read this, note whether the points addressed here match up with your experience in your community and then share your experience with us at rreid@air.org.
First and foremost, hire a Youth Engagement Specialist (YES) or Youth Coordinator. Youth Engagement Specialists serve as your system of care’s lead in matters related to creating leadership opportunities for youth with mental health challenges as well as engaging young people in decision making. They apply focused attention on youth engagement and help your community develop and implement a workable game plan for engaging youth in meaningful ways. View the tip sheet for hiring Youth Coordinators Word.
Before shifting your recruitment efforts into high gear, it is important to consider the benefits of "going slow to go fast"; that is, being thoughtful and strategic about who you engage as well as why and how you engage them will help set you up for long-term success. You may begin this process by consulting your initial grant application in which you identify your population(s) of focus as well as areas of highest concern for your community. Which key initiatives, advisory groups, and decision making bodies could benefit substantively from authentically engaging youth voice? Which youth ought to be engaged in those initiatives? With important issues like suicide prevention, limited access to quality mental health care in the community, and supporting youth transitioning into adulthood, it is critical that you are clear about which youth you involve, why you involve them, and how you will do so. Be mindful of changes to your community’s focus areas prior to kicking off your recruitment efforts. By giving these questions some preliminary thought, you save time and focus your resources in ways that are more effective.
Finally, it is important to recognize that context — or environment — matters. Youth involvement efforts do not exist within a vacuum. Success isn’t hinged solely on your ability to recruit youth and match them to the topics and initiatives that matter to them. Equally important is the task of taking an honest look at the environment within which youth are being engaged. Here are some questions to consider:
- Are your committees, boards, and meeting locations/times really welcoming to the youth you seek to engage?
- Are you really ready to listen to, validate, and make changes based on youth voice?
- Are meeting spaces designed to make youth feel comfortable, safe, and welcome?
- Are you prepared to provide incentives such as cash, community service credits, or school credit to support youth involvement?
- Are meeting agendas and tones set in partnership with youth or are all decisions about meeting agendas and tone controlled by adults?
- Have you taken the time to prepare not only the youth but also the adults for the new task of working together to reach common goals?
If you are like most communities, your answers to these questions will reveal that there are many environmental and cultural barriers to meaningful youth engagement. While it is not necessary to develop the "perfect" environment for youth engagement prior to beginning the work, it is important to be aware of how your environment impacts your ability to engage and retain youth. Address these questions not only through the eyes of adults, but also through the eyes of young people. By taking time to assess your readiness for youth voice, you take a critical step in developing workable youth involvement strategies and setting your community up for success.
Related Reading
Say Y.E.S. to Youth: Youth Engagement Strategies (PDF)
Covers important issues related to working with youth, including assessing your organization’s readiness for bringing youth on board, recruiting and supporting youth, and using evaluation to strengthen your efforts.
Core Principles for Engaging Young People in Community Change (PDF)
Reviews core principles for youth engagement and illustrates how to build on foundations of youth development, youth leadership, civic engagement, youth organizing, and youth and adult partnerships.