This theme identifies whether young people are treated as valued partners in decision processes: are they involved from the beginning, is there respect for mutual learning, willingness to compromise, responsiveness, are meetings youth-friendly, and is their information and transparency about what will happen as a result of decisions made.
The means to achieve this theme:
1. Collaborative partnering
2. Respectful partnering
3. Youth / Young adult - friendly meetings
4. Information sharing and communication
5. Transparency in decision making
This is theme where Colorado scores were the highest, meaning that policies in this area seemed to be the most developed of all themes. For this theme participant’s felt the means to achieve this theme was close to being fully developed. For example, there is plenty of time for discussion, learning, and exploring options before decisions are made. Additionally, youth and young adult representatives are regularly engaged from the beginning of a particular topic or project. This includes initial decisions—such as choosing the issues and long-term goals to focus on—as well as later work—such as making decisions about how to address these issues and goals.
Do you work with young people to establish good meeting practices that encourage young people to engage in meeting activities?
Do you provide meeting materials in advance, keep meetings short and efficient, begin with ice-breakers or sharing time, explaining acronyms and jargon, and provide food and taking regular breaks?
Are meetings are scheduled at times and locations that youth and young adults can attend?
Are there well-defined ways that agency staff and Y/YA communicate and share relevant information outside of formal meetings.
Is communication youth and young adult-friendly and accessible.
Does information provide youth and young adult leaders with accurate and sufficient information to support their meaningful participation in agency advising and decision-making.
Realizing The Power Of Youth Voice
AMP+ Top 10 Tips For Engaging Young People
AMP+ Techniques For Promoting Youth And Young Adult Converstation
Youth MOVE National T2C Youth Advisory Boards
To learn more about Youth MOVE National and the Y-VAL CLICK HERE