1. 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

2. 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

3. What we know about youth engagement

4. 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.

5. Which Outcomes? A Question of Balance

6. Connecting the Pieces: Action Pathways

7. Education Civic/Political Cultural/Artistic Spiritual Social/Assoc. Individual Health and Human Services Economic Physical Basic Services

8. Youth Action: The Common Core Expanding Service: Many Strategies Governance Organizing Advocacy Leadership Service Entrepreneurship Philanthropy

9. What do youth councils do?

10. 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

11. Who they Advise Governors State Legislatures Individual Legislators Children’s Cabinet’s Boards and Commissions State and Local Departments and Agencies Coordinating Bodies Mayor’s City Councils

12. Characteristics of Effective Youth Councils

13. 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?

14. 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

15. 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

16. North Carolina State Youth Council Youth Advisory CouncilYouth Legislative Assembly

17. 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

18. Integrating Youth Voice Into Policy Draft Legislation Advise Top Officials Serving in Government Departments Write/Inform Plans Testify

19. New Mexico Youth Alliance New Mexico Youth Alliance members with Gov. Richardson at teen suicide press conference

20. Hampton Youth Commission

21. 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.orgShanetta@forumforyouthinvestment.org Web: www.forumfyi.org