Youth-adult partnership

Youth-Adult Partnership is the title of a conscious relationship which establishes and sustains intergenerational equity between young people and adults.

Activities

"Youth-adult partnerships happen when young people and adults become engaged together in their communities; they are relationships between youth and adults where there is mutuality in teaching, learning, and action." [Zeldin, S., McDaniel, A., Topitzes, D., & Lorens, M.B. (2001). "Bringing young people to the table: Effects on adults and youth organizations," "CYD Journal, 2"(2) p. 20-27.] These relationships usually occur within youth organizations, where they are typified by youth voice, and in democratic schools, where they are typified by student voice. Youth/adult partnerships often display a high degree of youth rights and autonomy, and is often synonymous with meaningful youth participation.

According to the State of Texas, youth-adult partnerships have allowed young people to assume the roles of advisors and consultants to youth organizations, political lobbyists, community organizers, grant (money) decision-makers, nonprofit board directors, and as direct youth service providers. [(2002) [http://www.tnoys.org/TNOYSServices/PromotingYouthDev/Youth%20Adult%20Partnerships%20Guide.pdf Youth/Adult Partnerships Guide] Texas Network of Youth Services and Prevention and Early Intervention/Community Youth Development, Division of the Texas, Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.]

Youth-adult partnerships are said to allow young people to
* Express themselves publicly
* Gain respect for adult allies
* Find ways to express their creativity
* Work for a good cause
* Think more critically
* Be a valued asset to the project and the community [(n.d.) [http://ruralinitiative.nebraska.edu/development/dialogues/partnerships.html?PHPSESSID=c7711b24fd269e16049856b6262e41de Dialogues Across Nebraska: Youth Adult Partnerships] University of Nebraska Rural Initiative.]

Research consistently shows that in addition to concrete outcomes, youth/adult partnerships require specific cultural and structural supports within organizations and communities in order to succeed. [Zeldin, S. and Petrokubi, J. (2006) "Understanding Innovation: Youth-Adult Partnerships in Decision Making," "The Prevention Researcher. 13"1. Pages 11-15.] Youth voice is commonly recognized as an essential element of effective youth/adult partnerships.

Outcomes

By elevating the role of youth voice, the relationships formed by youth/adult partnerships are said to combat ephebiphobia and adultism [Fletcher, A. (2006) "Washington Youth Voice Handbook." Olympia, WA: CommonAction.] . A broad number of parties benefit from said partnerships, including the organizations where the partnerships occur, adults who are involved, and youth themselves. Actual benefits range from increased commitment to higher feelings of self-efficacy, as well as increased organizational effectiveness and civic engagement [Norman, J. (2001) [http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/transitions/transitions1401_7.htm "Building Effective Youth-Adult Partnerships"] , "Transitions. 14"1, October 2001. Advocates for Youth.] . Youth/adult partnerships have been found to be particularly effective in addressing school improvement [Fletcher, A. (2005) "Meaningful student involvement guide to students as school partners." Bothell, WA: HumanLinks Foundation.] , promoting global health initiatives [Family Health International. (2002) [http://www.fhi.org/en/RH/Pubs/Network/v22_2/NWvol22-2youth.htm YouthLens: Youth-Adult Partnerships] "Network. 22"2. Author.] , and integrating technology in the classroom. [Goldman, G. & McCombs, B. (n.d.) [http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/technology/goldman.htm Using New Educational Technologies to Empower Youth: The Power of Youth-Adult Partnerships in e-Learning] . Seattle, WA: New Horizons for Learning.]

Additional practice has identified significant roles for youth/adult partnerships in rural civic engagement projects [(n.d.) [http://www.ruraledu.org/site/c.beJMIZOCIrH/b.1073999/k.17A9/Civic_Engagement_and_YouthAdult_Partnerships.htm Civic Engagement and Youth/Adult Partnerships] Arlington, VA: Rural School and Community Trust.] and in creating effective outreach for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer, and questioning youth. [(n.d.) [http://www.glsen.org/binary-data/GLSEN_ATTACHMENTS/file/000/000/394-2.pdf GLSEN Jump Start: Youth Adult Partnerships] New York, NY: GLSEN.]

ee also

*Intergenerational equity
*Youth participation
*Community youth development
*Positive psychology
*Service learning

External links

* [http://cals-cf.calsnet.arizona.edu/fcs/content.cfm?content=YAPartners Youth/Adult Partnerships Factsheet] University of Arizona website.
* [http://www.freechild.org/YAPtips.htm Youth/Adult Partnerships Tip Sheet] The Freechlid Project.
* [http://www.spunout.ie/ SpunOut.ie National Youth Website, Ireland] .

References