Youth ADVISORY Boards

1. Youth ADVISORY Boards A training and overview for Extension volunteer administrators

2. 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

3. 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 impactbecause youth are not represented.

4. 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: • Communication • Interpersonal • Problem-solving • Understanding-organizational skills Source: American Youth Policy Forum, 1999

5. 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.”

6. 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.

7. Meeting Requirements • Requirements: • Meet face-to-face at least twice annually • Utilize distance technologies for additional communication

8. Membership • 8-15 people • Representative of county demographics and geographical areas • Majority youth membership • Ratio of 3:1, youth:adults • Serve a two-year termwith membership rotation plan in place • Youth, ages 12-18 years of age • Think beyond the 4-H program

9. Characteristics of Members Youth Adults One adult for every three youth Passionate about serving young people • Represent different schools, including home school • Come from different parts of the county and different Commissioner precincts

10. Member Recruitment Youth Adults Selected by CEA from the community to meet needs of committee Selected from County Volunteer Leaders Association by members • Selected by CEA • Established as a new officer position for each club • Selected from County 4-H Council by Council members

11. 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

12. Issue Validation • Validate youth issues every 4 years • Conduct issue identification process with other PACs

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.

16. Catalysts for Success • Establishing a Youth-Adult Partnership • Bringing definition to youth and adult

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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

21. Questions?