YOUTH eNGAGEMENT and the rOLE of aDULTS. gOALS for today… Understand the role of an adult ally Be aware of the qualities and skills needed to be a strong.

yOUTH eNGAGEMENT and the rOLE of aDULTS

gOALS for today…gOALS for today… Understand the role of an adult ally Be aware of the qualities and skills needed

to be a strong adult ally Develop a greater understanding of youth engagement

and how to keep youth motivated

Feel confident that you can play a role in supporting youth engagement initiatives in your region

Term What it is… What it is not…

Term What it is… What it is not…

Youth engagement

Youth feeling empowered as partners to make decisions

Youth having little to no influence or decision-making power

Youth/adult partnerships

Youth and adults having equal control and accountability in the project

Adults stepping back and surrender all power and responsibility

Adult ally Adults acting as teachers and learners; “Power with youth”

“Power over youth”

Youth Untapped resources within communities

Youth aren’t problems that need to be solved

yOUTH eNGAGEMENT vOCABULARY…yOUTH eNGAGEMENT vOCABULARY…

yOUTH eNGAGEMENT…yOUTH eNGAGEMENT…

Empowering all youth as valued partners in addressing and making decisions about issues that affect them personally and/or that they believe to be important

it’s about pARTNERSHIPS…it’s about pARTNERSHIPS…

Youth engagement

Youth engagement

Youth– Adult partnerships

Adult-

initiated

and

shared

decision

making

Assigned but

informed

Consulted and informed

Youth-

initiated and

directed

The New Mentality

gETTING it sTARTED and kEEPING it gOING…gETTING it sTARTED and kEEPING it gOING…

The New Mentality

a wORD about aDULT aLLIES…a wORD about aDULT aLLIES…

outgoingnon-judgmentalcompassionatehelpfulpositiveknowledgeablefriendlyeasy-goinghonestfunflexible

sensitive to the needs of youth

fOUR pILLARS of yOUTH fOUR pILLARS of yOUTH eNGAGEMENT…eNGAGEMENT…

Respect Listen Understand Communicate

Source: Centre of Excellence for Youth Engagement

cOMMON cHALLENGES…cOMMON cHALLENGES…

Lack of organizational support Under-investment of time and resources Poor logistics Unclear roles and objectives Lack of training or understanding YE

practice

tOP 10 tIPS to mAKE it wORK!tOP 10 tIPS to mAKE it wORK!1. Take time to really LISTEN2. Welcome ideas and validate opinions3. Allow youth to make mistakes4. Allow yourself to make mistakes5. Balance the power6. Hold realistic expectations7. Never underestimate the potential of youth8. Be real with young people9. Practice what you preach10. Treat youth with respect

a few hELPFUL links…a few hELPFUL links… Visit:

www.onthepoint.ca

www.thenewmentality.ca

Ready, Set, Engage! by Nancy PereiraA step-by-step guide to Youth Engagement in the Child and Youth Mental Health sector

Erin Smith, Youth Engagement CoordinatorThe Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health at [email protected]