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A New Generation of Leaders. Creating Youth Leadership Institutes in Your Community. Jim Casey Y outh L eadership I nstitute. Rationale Core Competencies Timeline Results. Customizing the National Model. Planning and Development Training Components Outcomes.
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A New Generation of Leaders Creating Youth Leadership Institutes in Your Community
Jim Casey Youth Leadership Institute • Rationale • Core • Competencies • Timeline • Results
Customizing the National Model • Planning and Development • Training Components • Outcomes
Origins of the ASPIRING Young Leaders Program • Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) at Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative • One young leader from each site annually • Training helped participants blossom • Wouldn’t it be great to send more than one • Finally started with a talk on the beach • Hired an expert – YLI graduate
ASPIRING Young Leaders Program Goal & Results To build upon the strengths of youth who have experienced foster care & empower young leaders across the state to succeed. • Increase understanding about issues in foster care • Develop leadership & advocacy skills • Create & have a network of relationships with peers and supportive adults
Pre-Work • Develop training components - Create agenda - Facilitation - Decide on venue - Identify & Recruit young people • Applications & Interviews • Welcome packets (three weeks prior) • Transportation to training
Training Overview: Day 1 Theme: Personality and Relational Development • MBTI Leadership Development (Trained Facilitator) • Objective: Young People have an understanding of their personality style and learn to work and balance with others
Training Overview: Day 2 Theme: Advocacy • Scavenger Hunt: Overview of Programs (Young people introduce themselves to staff around the office, learning more about the program) • Terms and Language (Young people understand basic terms and language used in child welfare) • Effective Leadership (Young people understand different leadership styles and learn how to work with each other) • Strategic Sharing (Young people learn to share their story in a safe and meaningful way. • Case Planning Engagement (Young people acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to lead their own case/life planning)
Training Overview: Day 3 Theme: Practice Skills • Practice Panels (Young People put skills into practice & receive feedback) • Creating Bios (Young People have bios for professional engagements)
Post Training -Follow up • Alumni Network • Quarterly engagement events (social & educational) • Youth Board Engagement • Advanced Training
Lessons LearnedChallenges • Transportation • Commitment – from youth & staff/guardian • Size of group & No. of groups matters • Training POD leaders well –identifying weaknesses & strategies to overcome • Learning disabilities/difficulty reading can be challenging • Younger age = challenge for representation at conferences out of state • Dealing with history
Lessons Learned Solutions • List of participants given to POD leaders ahead of time to strategize • Tell participants to “check” history at door (part of being a professional & a leader) • Add a learning disability/reading level question to application • Find meaningful ways to keep younger youth engaged locally • Discuss transportation issues during interview
Lessons Learned Solutions • Staff/guardians & youth need to specifically be told that this is a serious commitment • Allow enough time for recruitment • Be very thorough with POD leaders around expectations & allow for time to train them • Talk candidly about POD leader strengths & weaknesses
Lessons Learned Funding Considerations • Staff & consultant time – outreach, program & material development, implementation • Material - binders, applications, “fun buckets”, certificates, pens, etc. • Communications – brochures, website • Incentives – prizes, stipends • Transportation – bus passes • Food – home-cooked, delivered, snacks
Results • Youth Board & other leadership experiences… • Works Wonders
Q & AJim Caseywww.jimcaseyyouth.orgMike Penomichael.s.peno@wmich.eduTiffany Barbosatiffanie.barbosa@fosterforward.netLiz Squibblsquibb@jimcaseyyouth.org