Promoting Participation of Older Youth

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Promoting Participation of Older Youth

Rebecca N. SaitoYouth Work institute

James Howard

© 2011 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

WHO IS HERE? Type of Organization Your Role—Staff or Volunteer or? Why you signed up for this workshop?

What do you want to know/discuss? Who am I?


AGENDA Introductions & Background What is “Normal” Adolescent Development? Engaging Older Youth: Theory and Practice Discussion, Q & A


BASIC YOUTH NEEDS Feel a sense of safety and structure. Experience active participation, group membership and

belonging. Develop self-worth through meaningful contribution. Experiment to discover self, gain independence and gain control

over one’s life. Develop significant quality relationships with peers and adults. Discuss conflicting values and form their own. Feel pride of competence and mastery. Expand capacity to enjoy life and know that success is possible.

Adapted from Konopka, G. (1973). Requirements for healthy development of adolescent youth. Adolescence 8(31), 2-25. Pittman, K.J. and Wright, M. (1991). A rationale for enhancing the role of the non-school voluntary sector in youth development. (Commissioned for the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development) Washington, DC: Center for Youth Development and Policy Research


ENGAGING OLDER YOUTH 2 Studies of Youth Engagement Rings of Engagement (Sullivan & Saito,

2010) Engaging Older Youth (HFRP, 2010)


PLACES & PROGRAMS

RELATIONSHIPS

Rings of Engagement

Theresa K. Sullivan, Rebecca N. Saito, August 2008, University of Minnesota, Center for Youth Development

PEOPLE


EFFECTIVE OST PROGRAMS… Provide opportunities for leadership Meet the developmental needs of older

youth Promote supportive relationship Exhibit effective group management

Engaging Older Youth: Program and City-level Strategies to Support Sustained Participation in Out-of-School Time, Sarah N. Deschenes, Amy Arbreton, Priscilla M. Little, Carla Herrera, Jean Baldwin Grossman, Heather B. Weiss, with Diana Lee, Harvard Family Research Project, 2010


UNDERSTAND WHAT ADOLESCENTS NEED AND WANT

Tier 1: Novelty and exploration:– New ideas, new challenges, new people

Tier 2: Social comfort– Safety, respect, feeling valued

Tier 3: Leadership responsibilities– Providing opinions and idea



UNDERSTAND WHAT ADOLESCENTS NEED AND WANT

Youth report they want a program that is sensitive to developmental differences– balance structure and freedom– learning and recreation– safety and opportunity



SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS Learning about youth culture Making time to talk Informal socialization Keeping informed of youth outside of the

program


RESOURCES Resources

– http://www.mentorri.org/for-mentors.htm rhode Island

– http://www.youthengagement.umn.edu– http://www.mpmn.org/

ToolsforMentoringAdolescents.aspx with Search Institute

– http://mentoringworks.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/making-mentoring-work-for-older-youth/ Mentoring Partnership of MN blog


DISCUSSION How do “healthy adolescent development”

and engagement research relate to mentoring older youth?

What questions do you have? What has worked well for you in working

with older youth?

Promoting Participation of Older Youth

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