OVERVIEW OF YOUTH BOARDS

A training and overview for Extension volunteer administrators

Youth Board Successes

• List counties and provide examples of Youth Board Successes

• Youth Program Success

• Member Recruitment Success

• Common struggles

Why Youth 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 Boards?

• Youth and adult partnerships have revealed that youth involved in boards with Ameri-Corp show improvements in:– Communication– Interpersonal– Problem-solving– Understanding-organizational skills

Source: American Youth Policy Forum, 1999

Why Youth Boards?

• 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 Boards?

• 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.

Youth Board vs. Council• Youth Board– Build a youth-adult partnership– Determine issues facing youth – Provide educational programs to address issue– Not to assist in planning of 4-H events (banquet,

guidelines, etc.)

• County 4-H Council– Help plan and support county 4-H program– Provide input into the program– Coordinate promotional events and activities– Should not serve in dual capacity by also serving

as Youth Board

4-H Advisory Committees

• Assist CEA in making decisions regarding the county 4-H program

• Task forces plan project experiences

• Plan awards & recognition events

• Review rules and guidelines/county program policies

4-H Expansion & Outreach

• Youth Board can serve in the capacity of 4-H Expansion and Outreach Committee

• Must look beyond 4-H program

• Work to expand youth audience

• Reach out to non 4-H members

Youth Board 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• 4-H and non 4-H members• Think beyond the 4-H program

Characteristics of Youth Members

• At least two from the 4-H & Youth Development Program– Best Practice: One from 4-H club; one from other 4-H

outlet such as special interest, school enrichment or after-school program

• Other youth members come from community or school organizations– Best Practice: Represent public, private and home

schools and a variety of school and community organizations

• Ages of youth should range from ages 12 – 18 with discretion from the County Extension Agent

Characteristics of Adult Members

• One adult for every three youth

• Best Practice: – At least one adult should be an educator of

some type. – Other adult membership should consist of

individuals that have a global perspective of youth and can think beyond the traditional 4-H program.

Potential Adult Members

• Potential positions that could be contacted for membership include:– Youth minister– Public/private school educator & administrator– Member of local school board– Legislative aide– County Commissioner– City Park & Recreation Representative– Major business representative– Chamber of Commerce Representative– Youth/Family Service Agency Representative

Member Recruitment

• Have current 4-H member & YB member recruit one non-4-H member

• Work with school administrators, counselors, and teachers to identify youth to serve

• Letter of invitation• Youth involved in after-school program• Conduct an informational meeting

Youth Board Meetings

• Face-to-face at least 2 times per year

• Communicate and conduct additional business through:– Texting– E-mail– Facebook– Telephone

Issue Identification

• Facilitated by CEA

• Various methods

• Same end result

Appropriate Issues• An issue…– Of broad concern within a community – people

are talking about the issue– With choices to be made, but no clear “right”

answer– With a range of people and groups needed to act

in order for the community to effectively move forward

– Where new approaches may help the community move forward

– Where citizens have not considered the implications of different courses of action

– Where officeholder’s decisions need to be informed by both public judgment and experts’ views

Inappropriate Issues

• Requires an immediate response• Has already been decided by the public

and would only be a “rubber stamp”• Is highly technical and required a

technical solution• Needs only a yes/no response• Is relevant to only a small group of

people

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