Creating a Youth Advisory Board

Share YOUR your insights

to make things betterfor the foster youth

of tomorrow

Workshop developed bythe Ohio chapter of

Foster Care Alumni of America

Five volunteers

Consumer and Social Movements:

• Civil rights movement• Women’s suffrage• Disability rights• Faith movements• GLBTQ

Did you have a voice when it came to your foster care experience?

• Design of foster care• Delivery of foster care• Evaluation of foster care

Foster Care Movement:

• Canada’s Youth in Care Network (CYC)

• California Youth Connection (CYC)

• Statewide youth advisory boards (YAB)

• Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA)

• International foster care movement

Blindfold Activity

Becoming an Agent of Change

Moving from serving youthto empowering youth

Youth Serving Agencies Youth Led Agencies

Youth are viewed as the recipients of programs, services, tools and resources.

Youth act as developers , facilitators and evaluators of programs and services.

Youth are showcased as a “Success Story” to promote a program.

Youth act as agency representatives, and promote positive impact to community.

Youth receive pre-packaged issues and topics.

Youth have the opportunity to research multiple issues and decide on final projects

Youth do not receive formal education or training about advocacy movements and systemic change.

Youth receive strategic education and training about advocacy and its impact on larger social issues and systems.

Source: Honoring Emancipated Youth

Empowering Youth for Success:

• Leadership and Professionalism• Resumes and College Applications• Emotional Connections and Trust• Positive Memories and Healing

Adding Value to Efforts and Events Orchestrated by Professionals

• First-hand expertise

• Insights supporting initiatives

• Organizational goals

• Add value to conferences

• Better outcomes for youth

• Revitalize your work

• Legislation

Being Part of A Collective Voice

It takes more than one personto represent a movement

Youth Panels

Legislative Advocacy

Facilitate Local Events

Knowing the Steps

Once officers are established:

• Code of Conduct• Mission Statement• Recommendations• Strategic Plan• Marketing Plan• Logo, Mascot• Group Identity

Structure of the Board

Duties of the PresidentLeadership skills: Knows the workthat needs to be done and how/when todelegate.

Vision for the future of the Board:Above all, ensures that the board isAlways moving forward.

Empowering members: Focus on theabilities of every Board member andhow they can stay involved andcontribute. Never dominates themeeting.

Direction: Presides over meetings,making sure that they begin and end ontime. Allows allows ample but notExcessive time for discussion. Bringsissues to a satisfactory conclusion whensensing a discussion is dragging orbeing monopolized.

Duties of the Vice President

Ready and available: Presides at meetings and otherfunctions in the absence of thepresident.

Must be prepared to assume the officeof President if necessary.

Second-in-Command: Informed and up-to-date regardingissues

Skilled in handling the board’s business.

Annual Report: Responsible for a year-end report onthe board’s accomplishments.

Other duties as assigned.

Duties of the Media Spokesperson

Gathers news about the board and gets it out to the public.

Establishes contact between the local news media and newspapers.

Prepares news releases and distributes them to newspapers andradio and television stations.

Includes the “who, what, when, where, why and how” – a descriptionof the activity and how it affects thecommunity.

Administers and monitors all electronic communication including, but not limited to, email, Facebook and the OYAB Website and blog

Duties of the Secretary

• Keeps all board records for continuous reference to all that has happened.

• With the president, sets a tentative agenda of each meeting several days in advance.

• Advises the president during the meeting about the agenda.

• Counts votes, unless someone else is appointed.

• Maintains a complete list of members and contacts.

• Reads previous board meeting minutes.

Duties of the Parliamentarian

The board authority and

consultant to the president on

procedural matters.

Has a working knowledge of

parliamentary law.

Calls attention to any errors in

procedure but has no authority to

enforce ideas or rulings.

Skills: Diplomacy; Robert’s Rules

of Order: motion, move, second

Duties of the Treasurer

Assists in developing the annual

budget for the board.

- Keeps record of all board funds.

- Maintains accurate records of

income and expenses.

At the beginning of the year, have

an official treasurer’s book and the

complete records of the outgoing

treasurer.

- Sends out membership accounts.

- Assists with other tasks as assigned by the President.

Post-Officer Elections:

• Code of Conduct• Mission Statement• Recommendations• Strategic Plan• Marketing Plan• Logo, Mascot• Group Identity

Structure of the Board

Youth Boards and Role of Adults

Adults serve as facilitators, allowing teens and young adults

to take on more of a leadership role.

This is a coaching and mentorship role: Preparing youth for

new experiences, while also empowering them to take the lead

when it comes to decision-making.

What debriefing with an adult supporter looks like:

Barriers to Success

• Low Attendance

• Transportation Issues

• Personal Issues

• Time Management

• Financial Issues

• Lack of Experience

Overcoming Barriers

• Outreach• Strength in Numbers• Transportation Support• Peer Mentoring• Delegation• Stipends• Training

What Organizations Could Your YAB

Partner With?

Tools for Communication

• Phone

• Email

• Website

• Blog

• Wiki

• Facebook

• Newsletter

• E-Blast

Laying the foundation forfuture leadership of your board

Thank you for being anAgent of Change