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Report of the LEGISLATIVE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL Public Forums

Report of the LEGISLATIVE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL Public Forums. A Report to the 123 rd Legislature First Regular Session January 15, 2007. Last Year’s Amendments to LYAC Statutes. Public Law 2005 Chapter 616, §A-3 Required that, in 2006, 2 public forums be:

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Report of the LEGISLATIVE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL Public Forums

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  1. Report of the LEGISLATIVE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL Public Forums A Report to the 123rd Legislature First Regular Session January 15, 2007

  2. Last Year’s Amendments to LYAC Statutes • Public Law 2005 Chapter 616, §A-3 • Required that, in 2006, 2 public forums be: • Held for the “purpose of soliciting input, suggestions and ideas for enhanced civic education” in Maine secondary schools • Held in high schools “north and south of Augusta” • Summarized in a report to the Legislative Council (transmitted and accepted January 25, 2007). • Forums were authorized as one-time events and were not funded for subsequent years

  3. Policy Issues Identified • Enforcing School Alcohol and Drug Policies • Youth Civic Engagement • Bullying and Harassment • School Nutrition • School Safety • Suicide Prevention

  4. Planning Process • LYAC staff worked with the Department of Education and the host school administrators to develop: • Program agenda/timeline • Participation rules/guidelines • Registration process/materials • Host school student teams worked with LYAC youth members to: • Facilitate policy discussions • Participation goal of 100 youth at each forum

  5. Forum 1: Northern Region • Held November 2, 2006 • Hosted by Ellsworth High School (EHS) • Total participants = 63 • Including 46 high school students from 6 high schools in the region • Process • 14 EHS students and 3 LYAC youth members partnered to facilitate 4 policy discussion groups • Each participant chose 1 discussion group • Groups reported back to forum at closing session

  6. Forum 2: Southern Regional • Held November 14, 2006 • Hosted by Kennebunk High School (KHS) • Total Participants = 109 • Including 83 students from 11 high schools and community-based youth programs in the region • Process • 9 KHS Students and 7 LYAC youth members partnered to facilitate 4 separate policy discussion groups • Participants had the opportunity to choose 2 of 4 optional policy discussion groups • Peer-to-peer emphasis - adults could participate upon invitation • Groups reported back to forum in closing session

  7. LYAC Member Survey • Designed to: • Gauge member response to ideas, opinions and perspectives of participants • Determine how LYAC would collectively prioritize policy issues • Obtain feedback regarding the outcome and planning process • Response rate = 87% • 14 completed surveys of the 16 people who were Council members at that time.

  8. Survey Results • “Potential Solutions” = statements that reflect opinions, perspective and values of Maine’s youth • Total of 48 potential solutions, across 6 different policy areas were offered by forum participants • 94% of the policy solutions were supported by a majority (>50%) of member respondents.

  9. Key Findings: Policy Priorities • 1 = Highest Priority; 6 = Lowest Priority

  10. Key Findings: Unanimous Support • Ensure consistency across individuals regardless of extracurricular involvement in the punishment for violating school drug and alcohol policy. • Include in the definition of bullying the use of the web (i.e. myspace.com) as a means of bullying. • Direct state and local governments to develop more civic engagement opportunities for youth. • Improve communication between government, schools and students regarding civic education and engagement opportunities. • Raise awareness about health food choices, eating disorders and lifestyle choices through school and community.

  11. What’s Next? • One avenue…… • Use Potential Solutions with Unanimous Support to define scope of policy issues • Advise the legislature • Proposing new legislative solution • Providing input on existing legislation • Consider other policy issues of importance?

  12. Questions, Comments, Thoughts? Brenna Byrne Legislative Researcher Office of Policy and Legal Analysis Phone: 287-1760 Email: brenna.byrne@legislature.maine.gov

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