Youth participation success story

YOUTH PARTICIPATION

How to get youth to participate in the community

and coalition.

ENGAGETHEM IN

ACTIVITIES THEY ENJOY!

Volunteering to be waiters at Breakfast with Santa!

PRESENTATIONS TO 6TH GRADE CLASSROOMS

ON HOW TO STAY ALCOHOL AND DRUG FREE

Three groups of the Hutch High Leadership Club gave presentations to 13 different 6th grade classrooms!

RED RIBBON WEEK

• Daily activities at Hutchinson High School to promote drug free youth.

• Activities at Hutchinson Middle School 8 to encourage youth to be alcohol and drug free.

Give to worthy causes

Sell beads from Bead for Life for Diversity Days at High School with all proceeds to go to South Africa to families living in poverty.

INCREASE YOUTH ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION AT COALITION MEETINGS

• HAVE YOUTH DO PRESENTATIONS AT COALITION MEETINGS!

• HOST A LARGE ANNUAL EVENT AND RECOGNIZE YOUTH AND THEIR PARENTS FOR ALL THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY.

HOLD COALITION MEETINGS AT TIMES WHEN YOUTH CAN ATTEND.

CHANGE MEETING TIMES FROM NOON AND LUNCHEONS TO 4:00

AFTER SCHOOL.

HOLD YOUTH FOCUS SESSION

• Established a youth statement• Identified what youth value• Formed youth responsibilities to

the coalition and adults• Formed adult responsibilities to the

youth• Engaged youth to be full

participants and not just tokens

Take youth to leadership summits and conferences.

Kansas Youth Leadership Summit• Youth from the

Hutchinson and Buhler Leadership groups work on creating an “Action Plan” for 2010-11 school year.

More Summit!

• Youth attend breakout sessions

• Meet with other youth at other schools around state

• Meet for large group sessions

Check out YouTube for these great dances learned at TABS!!!• Look for Bill Cordes and the following

dances:• Shark Week Dance• Respect Dance• Seatbelt DanceThe yearly summit was lots of work but

fun for all!!!

Thanks to KFP and KDOT for yearly support of the summit.

Overview of Youth Participation• Choosing – youth can choose which activities they wish

to participate in.• Decision-making – youth can meet on a regular basis to

discuss and modify existing program rules and regulations.

• Planning – youth can meet regularly to plan future programs and community activities.

• Assessing – youth can engage in program evaluation activities.

• Communicating – youth can regularly present programs to others such as community audiences, funders, stakeholders, etc.

(Advancing Youth Development Curriculum)

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Seven of the youth leadership kids are trained to be facilitators for Strengthening Families 10-14 Program.

• Youth Leadership Group as grown from 8 in 2006 to 45 in 2010.

• On average, 10-15 youth attend coalition meetings on a regular basis.