Your input on youth involvement plan

[Hadden]

Dear YouthLearn list member,

As a board member of Arlington Virginia's Partnership for Children, Youth,
and Families I am chairing a committee to recruit and involve youth with
the Partnership in a meaningful way.  Partnership board members were
appointed jointly by the county and school boards in Dec. '99 and we were
charged with "creating a community agenda for children, youth and families
in Arlington".  We've accomplished a great deal in the past two years
including sponsoring teen forums, a community forum, focus groups, work
groups, adoption of the ASSETS model, ASSETS
trainings, and sponsorship of the CDC youth risk survey and Search Assets
survey.  While we have involved youth in planning the teen forums, met with
teen groups as part of focus group work, and invited teens to nearly each
activity that we have been involved in, we need and want to have teens
involved as true partners in our work.  We are interested in learning from
organizations/programs that have successfully involved youth as partners so
that we get started with this in the most effective way possible.

We are interested in involving youth as more than advisors - it's important
to us that youth truly are partners in our organization.  We're looking for
the best means for developing a plan that is inclusive, equitable,
sustainable, and meaningful.  Youth will be involved in developing the
plan.

Any ideas, suggestions, things to avoid, good resources and contacts, etc.
will be appreciated.

Judy Hadden
Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth, & Families
candjhadden at home.com
703-241-5999
3600 N. Jefferson St.
Arlington, VA  22207

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