This system is specifically designed for youth employees, defined as individuals under 25 who are hired onto an organization for the purpose of providing a youth perspective. YEETS resources are also available to other youth leaders as relevant. Youth leaders are individuals under the age of 25 who help support or would like to support organizational, community, and/or system efforts (for example, members of youth advisory boards), but aren’t necessarily paid or official employees.
This training system empowers young people to identify and maximize their strengths and passions, build meaningful skills and connections to other youth, and form professional connections. These opportunities will not only benefit the youth attending them but also their supervisors and associated organizations. Young people with diverse lived experiences will be able to access different opportunities to grow and maximize their skills. Adult supervisors gain better understanding of the knowledge and skills that are necessary for youth employees by also having access to these resources. Organizations are able to expand ideas and resources for training young people beyond the tools available individually. In these ways, this system creates a well rounded sphere of support, resource, connection, and collaboration in the Positive Youth Development realm.