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The Forum for Youth Investment, Washington, DC
©2005 The Forum for Youth Investment/Impact Strategies, Inc.. All rights reserved.
Youth as Policy Makers:More Than Just
Recipients NCSL Audioconference
March 13, 2006
Goals
To discuss youth engagement in the policy context
To present patterns relating to how youth councils function
To highlight examples of effective youth council groups
What we know about youth engagement
Core Principles of Youth Engagement• Create a home base for young people.• Have at their core a youth and adult team.• Are intentional about building youth and adult
capacity.• Balance the need for individual supports with
the goal of community change.• Have an intentional theory of change that young
people and adults understand and own.• Take issue identification seriously and define
clear focal points for action.• Create opportunities for sustained access and
influence.• Plan for continuity of youth leaders over time.
Which Outcomes? A Question of Balance
Connecting the Pieces: Action Pathways
Education
Civic/Political
Cultural/Artistic
Spiritual
Social/Assoc.
Individual
Health and Human Services
Economic
Physical
Basic Services
Youth Action:
The Common
Core
Expanding Service: Many Strategies
Governance
Organizing
Advocacy
Leadership
Service
Entrepreneurship
Philanthropy
What do youth councils do?
Purpose: Advisory Role
• To advise policymakers on issues of concern to young people and to recommend solutions– Proposed and pending legislation– State budget expenditures– Government and private funding for youth
programs– Issues of concern to other youth in communities
Who they Advise
GovernorsState Legislatures
Individual LegislatorsChildren’s Cabinet’s
Boards and CommissionsState and Local Departments and Agencies
Coordinating BodiesMayor’s
City Councils
Characteristics of Effective Youth Councils
Key Questions to Consider
• How are youth councils structured?
• How do youth councils connect with public officials?
• How do youth councils connect with other young people?
• How do youth councils connect with the public?
Structure
• Organizational Home: Government departments, nonprofit organizations
• Staffing: 1 full time director supported by youth council members and interns
• Recruitment: typically 15-20 members• Funding: Primarily the public sector. Some youth
councils also are funded by the private sector.• Diversity: Age, social, economic, geographic,
traditional and non-traditional youth leaders• Continuity: Members typically serve 2 year terms
Building Strong Connections to Policymakers
• Formal (structured relationships)– Shared Leadership Model (Maine)– Pairing Youth With Policymakers (Missouri)– Youth Liaison (New Mexico)– Routine interactions and structured conversations
• Informal– One shot presentations that are not connected to a
longer term strategy to impact policy– Policymakers and youth council members support each
other and build relationships by attend informal meetings and events sponsored by either group
Formal versus Informal Relationships
North Carolina State Youth Council
Youth Advisory Council Youth Legislative Assembly
Agenda Setting
• Issue Identification– Review and research bills, laws, policies, state
initiatives, state budget expenditures that affect youth
– Youth and community outreach• e.g. surveys, public hearings, youth forums and
town hall meetings, focus groups
– Coordination and integration of agenda’s between youth councils and policymakers
Integrating Youth Voice Into Policy
• Draft Legislation
• Advise Top Officials
• Serving in Government Departments
• Write/Inform Plans
• Testify
New Mexico Youth Alliance
New Mexico Youth Alliance members with Gov. Richardson at teen suicide press
conference
Hampton Youth Commission
For More Information…
Shanetta Martin, Senior Program Associate
Forum for Youth Investment
7064 Eastern Avenue
Washington, DC 20012
Phone: (202) 207-3333
Fax: (202) 207-3329
Email: Shanetta@forumforyouthinvestment.org
Web: www.forumfyi.org
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