Publication#2008-24

…informationforpractitionersonhowtouseyouthgovernancetoinvolve“at-risk”youthinout-of-schooltime.

June2008

YOUTHGOVERNANCE:HOWANDWHYITCANHELPOUT-OF-SCHOOLTIMEPROGRAMS INVOLVEAT-RISKYOUTH

LillianBowie,M.A.,andJacintaBronte-Tinkew,Ph.D.

BACKGROUND

Out-of-schooltimeprogramsprovideinterventionandpreventionservicestoyoungpeoplewhoaredeemed“at-risk”withthegoalofimprovingtheirsocial,emotional,andacademicdevelopment.aHowever,researchindicatesthatchildrenandyouthwhoaremost“at-risk”arelesslikelytoparticipateinout-of-schooltimeprograms,anddosolessregularlythanothers.12

Giventhispattern,programstaffmembersneedtobecreativeintheireffortstorecruit,engage,andretainat-riskchildrenandyouthinprograms.Implementingayouthingovernancemodelcanbeaneffectivestrategyforinvolvingtheseyoungpeople.Thisbriefdefinesyouthgovernance

andbrieflydiscussesthebenefitsofinvolvingat-riskchildrenandyouthinout-of-schooltimeprogramgovernance.Italsoidentifiesstepsthatout-of-schooltimeprogramsmayconsiderwhenimplementingayouthgovernancemodelandpresentsrecommendationsfordealingwithpotentialchallengestoimplementation.b

WHATISYOUTHGOVERNANCE?

Youthgovernancereferstothepracticeofhavingyoungpeopleworkinpartnershipwithadultstoestablishthepolicies,goals,andactivitiesforaprogram.Thispracticecantaketheshapeofyouthservingonboardsorofyouthtakingonotherdecision-makingroles.3

Youth-adultpartnershipsarefundamentalcomponentsofanyyouthgovernancemodel.Thesecooperativeeffortsbetweenyoungpeopleandadultsarecharacterizedbymutualrespect,communication,andsharingofpower.4

WHYINVOLVEYOUTHINPROGRAM GOVERNANCE?

Researchandprogramexperiencesuggestthatyouthinvolvementinprogramgovernancecanresultinpositiveoutcomesforyouth,adults,andprograms.5

aTheterm“at-risk”hasbeenappliedtochildrenandyouthexperiencingpersonal,familyandcommunitydisadvantages,rangingfromexposuretofamilystress,poverty,physicalabuse,negativeself-perceptions,academicorschoolfailure,teenagepregnancy,juveniledelinquencyandneighborhoodproblems(HarvardFamilyResearchProject,

2007;Moore,2007).

bItis,ofcourse,necessarytoinvolvechildrenandyouthinage-appropriateways.Whileelementaryschool-age

childrenmayhavearoleinprogramdecision-making,thisbrieffocusesonolderchildrenandyouthandhowtheycanbeinvolvedinvariedgovernanceactivities.

Youthinvolvedinprogramgovernanceexperience:

•Lessinvolvementinriskybehaviors,suchasdruguseandjuveniledelinquency;6

•Improvementsinareassuchasteamwork,criticalthinking,decision-making,publicspeakinganddependability;7and

•Increasedself-esteemandimprovedself-identity.8

Adultsworkingwithprogramparticipantsexperience:

•Astrongersenseofcommunityconnectedness;9and

•Agreaterunderstandingofyoungpeopleandtheirdevelopmentalneeds.10

Programsthatinvolveyouthasdecision-makers:

•Gainnewenergyandideas;11

•Becomemoreconnectedandresponsivetotheneedsofyoungpeopleinthecommunity;12

and

•Canmoreeasilyrevisetheiroverallmissiontobetterservechildrenandyouth.13

TIPSFORINVOLVINGYOUTHINPROGRAMGOVERNANCE

Researchsupportsthevalueofyouthleadershipanddecision-makinginprograms.14Researcherstheorizethatinvolvingyoungpeopleinprogramgovernancemaybeoneofthemosteffectivestrategiesforpromotingpositiveyouthdevelopment.However,thepracticeofinvolvingyouthinorganizationalgovernance,particularlyat-riskyouth,canbefrustratingandtime-consumingfor

staff,inadditiontobeinghelpfulandrewarding.Thefollowingtipsmayhelpprograms

successfullyincorporateayouth-in-governancemodelintotheiroperations:

Tip1:Prepareadultsfortheideaofyouthbeinginvolvedinprogramgovernance.

Involvingyouthinprogramgovernancemayrequireanattitudeshiftamongtheadultboard,staff,orcommitteemembers.Itiscommonforadultstoresisttheideaofyoungpeopleasdecision-

makersbecauseofadultstakeholders’loyaltytotheprogram,theirattachmenttoestablishedstructures,andacommitmenttocurrentprocesses.Adultstakeholdersshouldbeinformedthattheirrolesandresponsibilitiesmaychangewhenyoungpeoplehaveavoiceinthedecision-makingprocess.Adultsalsoshouldrecognizethatinvolvingyouthinprogramgovernancewillrequireanongoingnegotiationofideasandresources,15andthatno“setdesign”or“standardformula,”existsforimplementingyouthingovernanceprogram.

TOPUTTHISIDEAINTOPRACTICE:

♦ Hostastaffmeetingoraboardroundtablediscussion.

♦ Providefrontlinestaffwithgeneralinformationaboutadult-youthpartnerships.

♦ Usingaflipchartandmarkers,askfrontlinestafftoughquestionswhichmayinclude:

oWhataretheadvantagesanddisadvantagesofhavingyouthmoreinvolvedinprogramdesignandimplementation?

oHowwillthismakeyourcurrentpositionlessdemandingormorechallenging?

oHowmuchtimedoyoufeelyoucandedicatetobuildinganinfrastructureto

supportmoreyouthinvolvement?

oWhenandhowmightanorganizationbegintoinvolveyouthingovernance?

♦ Allowallstafftheopportunitytoopenlysharetheiropinionswithoutjudgment.

Tip2:Establish aclearvisionandgoalsforhowandwhyyouthwillbeintegrated.

Itiscriticalthatalladultsunderstandandagreeonthepurposeandgoalsforinvolvingyouthintheirprogram.Acommonmisconceptionthatadultsmayholdisthatyouthwillwanttorunall

thekeyaspectsoftheprogramorproject.However,experiencesuggeststhatyoungpeoplewanttoshareresponsibilitieswithadults,asopposedtodoingeverythingthemselves.16Infact,youngpeoplewelcomeandneedadultparticipationintheformsofcoaching,modelingofbehaviors,andsharingtasks17becausetheyhavelimitedexperienceindesigning,planning,andexecutingprograms.Thissituationisparticularlytrueforat-riskyouth.Toavoidpoorprogramimplementation,adultsshouldestablishastrategicplanforhowyouthwillbebestutilizedand

shoulddeterminehowtheadultswillactivelysupporttheintegrationofyouthintothegovernanceprocess.18Ifgoalsforintegrationareambiguous,thisambiguityislikelytoresultinpoorprogramimplementationandtohaveanegativeimpacttheyoungpeople’sexperienceinthegovernancerole.19

TOPUTTHISIDEAINTOPRACTICE:

♦ Haveprogramstaffidentifygovernancerolesforyouth.

♦ Askprogramstafftodiscussthebenefitsanddisadvantagesofeachoftheseroles.

♦ Asateam,draftaplanthatincorporatesyouthintherolesdefinedbystaff.

Tip3:Buildtrust andestablishrapportamongyouth.

Engagingat-riskyouthinleadershiprolescanbeachallengingtaskbecausemanyoftheseyoungpeoplehaveexperiencedfewpositiverelationshipswithadults.Asaresult,someyouthwillbeskepticalofadultintentionswhenaskedtoassumegovernanceroles.20Programstaffshouldputtimeandeffortintoestablishingrapportandbuildingtrustwithyouthuponinvitingthemtoparticipate.Thefollowingobservationsaboutbuildingtrustmaybehelpful:

oBepatient:Bepreparedtoempowerandallowyouthtotakeonresponsibilitiesandleadershiproleswithoutexpectingperfection.Itshouldnotbeassumedthat,justbecauseyoungpeoplehavebeenintegratedintoprogramdecision-making,theyhavealloftheskillstoparticipatefully.Understandthatnewmembers,bothadultsandyouth,willneedtimetoadjust.Rememberthatleadershiplearningoccursevenwhenpeoplemakemistakes.21

oListenanddon’tjudge:Listencarefullyandaskquestionsthatarenon-threateningwhenyoutharespeaking.Itisimportanttotrytounderstandissuesfromayouthperspective.

oBeopenandauthentic:Youthshouldgetthesensethatadultsaregenuineandinterestedinthecontributionstheycanmaketotheprogram.22

TOPUTTHISINTOPRACTICE:

♦ Duringstaffmeetingsorroundtablediscussions,havestaffmemberssharetheirhonestperspectiveoftheirrelationshipswithprogramyouth.

♦ Usingtheflipchart,allowstafftobrainstormwhattheybelieveareeffectivestrategiestobuildtrustwithprogramyouth.

♦ Challengestaffmemberstoreflectonreal-lifeexperienceswheretheyhaveattemptedtoestablishrapportwithyouth,anddiscusswhetherthemethodsusedwereasuccessornot.

♦ Givestaffanopportunitytorole-playthestrategiesasateam.

RESPONDINGTOTHECHALLENGESOFINVOLVING YOUTHINPROGRAMGOVERNANCE

Aswithanynewapproach,challengeswillinevitablyarise.Thedifferencebetweenprogramsthatintegrateyouthingovernanceroleseffectivelyandprogramsthatdonotdependslargelyuponhowpeopledealwiththechallengesthatmayarise.23Drawingonresearchandinsightsfrompractitioners,weoutlinethreecommonchallengesandpresentsuggestionsforovercomingthem.

Challenge1:PowerStrugglesBetweenYouthandAdults.

Itisnotuncommonforadultstohavedifficultyrelinquishingpowertoyoungpeopleduringtheplanninganddecision-makingprocessinvolvedindevelopingayouthingovernancemodel.At

thesametime,youngpeoplemaybeuncomfortabletakingontheresponsibilitythatcomeswiththepower.24Insteadofdenyingdifferencesinobligations,interestsandskillsets,asuccessfulprogramwillbuildonandaccommodatethesedifferences.25Sharingpowercanbeachievedthroughcoaching.Practitionerwisdomindicatesthatoneofthemostdifficultskillsforadultstoacquireisbeingabletocoachyoungpeoplewithoutmakingthemfeelpowerless.Therefore,adultsshouldprovidelegitimateopportunitiesforyoungpeopletoplayameaningfulroleinthepartnership,whilealsoholdingthemaccountable.26

SuggestionsforDealingwithPowerStrugglesBetweenYouthandAdults:

•Adultsshouldactascoaches—offeringproactiveguidancetoyoungpeople—becauseoftheirexperienceandaccesstoinstitutionalpower.27

•Aftersupportingyoungpeopleintakingonnewrolesasdecision-makers,trainers,andorganizers,adultsshouldnotassumethatyoungpeoplewillautomaticallyorconsistentlyunderstandwhatisexpectedofthem.28

•Adultsshouldprovideclear,consistent,andconstructivefeedbackduringpreparationphrasesuntiltheplannedyouthingovernancemodelisimplemented.Programsshouldprovideopportunitiestodiscusspowerissuesopenly.29

Challenge2:“Adultist” Behavior

“Adultist,”arelativelynewtermthatisnotyetusedwidely,referstothesystematicmistreatmentanddisrespectofyoungpeople.Asresearchersusetheterm,itpertainstosubtlebehaviorsandattitudesbasedontheassumptionthatadultsarebetterthanyoungpeople.30Tosuccessfullyengageandempoweryouthinprogramgovernance,adultsshouldavoidadultistbehaviorsandattitudesduringinteractionswithyouth.Thisavoidanceiscriticalbecausemostyouthwouldagreethatduringdisagreementswithadults,thewordofayoungpersonmaynotbetakenoverthatofanadult.Also,someyouthmayfeelthatadultsdonottaketheirconcernsasseriouslyastheywouldtheconcernsofanotheradult.Ifyoungpeoplefeeladultbias,theymaybelessinclinedtospeakupduringdiscussions,andtherebyforgoopportunitiestoengagefullyingovernance.

SuggestionsforDealingwith“Adultist” Behavior:

•Programsshouldestablishguidelinesforhowthegovernanceboardwillmakedecisions.

Theseguidelinesshouldindicatetheroleofadultandyouthcommitteemembers.31

•Whenpossible,youngpeopleandadultsshouldhaveanequalsayinmakingfinaldecisions.32

•Adultsshouldavoidgivingyoungpeopleorderstodothingswithoutexplanation.Atthesametime,programsshouldbewaryofthrustingyoungpeopleintodecision-makingwithouttraining,practice,andanunderstandingoftheirresponsibilities.33

Challenge3:AvoidStereotypesofYouthAbilities

Itisnotunusualforadultstohavestereotypesofyoungpeople(andviceversa).Unfortunately,stereotypesaboutthecompetencelevelsofyoungpeopleoftenleadtoaparadoxicalsituation.As

tworesearchersexpressedthissituation:“Youthareunabletodemonstratetheircompetencedue

tolackofopportunity,andadultsfailtoprovidetheopportunitybecausetheyhavenotyetwitnessedtheyouthcompetence.”34Therefore,whenidentifyingyouthtoparticipateonboardsandtoworkinpartnershipwithadults,itbecomescriticalthatadultsavoidstereotypesofyouthcapabilities.Instead,adultsshouldactascoachesand—insomecases—trainers,inordertoavoidsettingyouthupforfrustration,confusion,andpossiblefailure.35

SuggestionsforOvercomingStereotypes:

•Programsshouldbuildontheindividualstrengthsofyoungpeopleandprovidewaysforthemtogrowinareaswheretheyarenotyetstrong.36

•Adultsshouldrecognizethatcognitiveanddecision-makingskillsamongyouthmayvarybyageandwithinagegroups.

•Programsshouldnotoverlookat-riskyouthforleadershipjustbecauseoftheirinexperience.

Althoughtheseyoungpeoplehaveenjoyedfeweropportunitiestoassumeformalleadershiproles,researchshowsthattheyoftenhaveinnateleadershipskillsthattheyexerciseregularlyjusttosurviveeverydayintheirhomeenvironments.37

INTHESPOTLIGHT

Program:WashingtonEnrichmentandCulturalArtsNetwork(WECAN)

Location: Washington,D.C.

Inthefollowinginterview,JohniceGalloway-Miller,theprogramdirectorforWECAN,describestheorganization’sexperienceswithayouthgovernancemodel.

WhatdoesWECANofferyoungpeople?

TheWashingtonEnrichmentandCulturalArtsNetwork,Inc.("WECAN")operatesReach-One-To-Teach-One,aLiteracyandArts

PrograminWard7oftheDistrictofColumbia.Youthages14through25participateinreading,poetry,writing,math,conflictresolution,dance,visualarts,positiverapmusic,andculturalandrecreationalenrichingactivities.

HowdoesWECANprepareprogramstafffortheadult-youthrelationship?

Duringstafforientation,wereviewWECAN’sorganizationalstandards.Thisreviewincludesgivinganoverviewoftheconceptsand

principlesofyouthdevelopmentbasedontheAdvancingYouthDevelopmentcurriculum.AtleasttwoofWECAN’sfrontlineyouthworkersarerequiredtotakea30-hourcourseinAdvancingYouthDevelopment.WECANalsopreparesitsstaffbydiscussingthebackgroundcharacteristicsoftheyouthpopulationintheprogram.

Whatthingsdoyoudotoinformtheadultsthatyouthwillhaveavitalroleinplanningactivities?

WECANseniorstaffexplainthatagoaloftheprogramisforyouthandadultstodevelopandimplementdecisionscollaboratively.

Thisapproachempowersyouthbutalsoteachesaccountabilityandresponsibilitypendingtheoutcomeoftheactivityorevent.Duringstafforientation,programstaffarebriefedonhowyoungpeople’sideasareincorporatedintothedesignoftheprogram,butarealsotoldhowcriticalitisthattheyremaininvolvedinsupportingtheimplementationoftheactivitiesplannedbyyouth.Everyfiveweeks,WECANseniorstaffsolicitsuggestionsfromfrontlinestaffabouthowtofurtherimprovetheadult-youthpartnershipinplanningfutureprogramactivities.

Whenisthestrategicplanforinvolvingyouthasprogramoractivityleadersdeveloped?

Thestrategicplanisestablishedduringtheproposalpreparationphase.Theplaniscritiquedfurtherduringmanagementmeetingsseveralmonthsbeforetheprogrambeginsandisthenreviewedandmodifiedonanongoingbasis.

Howaredecisionsmadetodeterminehowyouthwillbeinvolvedinplanningactivitiesfortheprogram?

WECAN’sprogramstaffconsiderswhethertheyoungperson’sinvolvementgiveshimorherthechancetoactivelylearnandbuild

skills,andwhethertheactivityprovidesyouthwiththeopportunitytodiscussideasandexpressthemselves.

Whatthingsaredonetoensurethatyouthhaveapositiveexperienceintheleadershiprole?

WECAN’sseniorstaffensuresthatprogramactivitiesandexpectationsarecommunicatedclearlytobothyouthandadults,andthattheadultsarecapableofprovidingthepropersupporttoassistyouthinsuccessfullyexecutingtheactivity.Theprogramdirector

administersregularsatisfactionsurveys,whichprovidevaluableinformationaboutyoungpeople’sexperienceintheprogram.

HowdoesWECANstaffbuildtrustwithyouth?

WECANestablishestrustbylisteningtoyouth’sideas,suggestionsandconcerns,andthendiscussespossiblesolutionstoissueswithoutjudgment.Thisprocessisdonethroughgroupsettingsandone-on-onemeetingswithyouth.Acriticalwaytobuildtrustwith

youngpeopleistolistentowhattheyhavetosayanddemonstratethatprogramstaffvaluestheirinputandopinion.WECAN’sstaff

demonstratespatiencebyaffordingyouthnewresponsibilitiesandcreatingasafeenvironmentwheretheydonotfeelasiftheyneedtobeperfect.Programstaffusethemistakesyoungpeoplemaymakeasopportunitiesforlearning.

Howdoprogramstafflistenandnotjudgeyouth?

Staffmemberslistentoandencourageyoungpeopletocompletetheirthoughtsandthoroughlyexplaintheirsideofastorywithoutlookingfortherightorwrongperspective.Acriticalwaytolearnfromyouth--insteadofpassingjudgment—istoconsidernotjust

“what”youngpeopledo,but“why”youngpeopledocertainthings.

Howdoprogramstaffknowtheyhavegainedthetrustofyouth?

Youthshowtheirtrustinmanydifferentways.Theyopenlysharetheirjournalwritingswithstaff.Theyasktohavediscussionsonsubjectsthattheyareafraidtotalkaboutwiththeirparentsorlegalguardians.Theyadmitwhentheyareatfaultandsharewithstaff

theirmostpersonalandprivatethoughts.

NEXTSTEPS:ADDITIONAL RESOURCESFORYOURPROGRAM

Anumberofnationalorganizationsandprogramsarecurrentlyinvestedinyouth-adultpartnerships.The

followingresourcesmaybeusefulforinvolvingat-riskyouthinout-of-schooltimeprogramgovernanceroles.

National4-HCouncil–The4-HYouthinGovernanceInitiativesupportsyouthparticipationingovernancerolesinprograms,organizations,andcommunities.TheInitiativefocusesontheskillsthatyouthandadultsneedtobeeffectiveingovernance.PeoplecansearchtheYouthinGovernancelibraryreferencesbytype,title,andauthor.

Availableonlineat:

PointsofLightYouthLeadershipInstitute–TheInstituteseekstoprovideyoungpeopletheencouragement,peernetworks,andleadershipskillsnecessaryforthemtomakemeaningfulcontributionstotheircommunitiesandtobeginalifelongjourneyofleadershipandservice.Formoreinformation,visit ThePointsofLightFoundationalsopublishedYouthVoice:AGuideforEngagingYouthinLeadershipandDecision-MakinginService-LearningPrograms.

Availableonlineat:

Community PartnershipswithYouth–CommunityPartnershipswithYouthisanationaltrainingandresourcedevelopmentorganizationwithovertenyearsofexperiencepromotingayouthvoiceinorganizationsandcommunities.Theorganizationhasdevelopedtrainingguidesandofferstrainingprogramsdirectedathelpingyoungpeopleunderstandtheirroleascommunitytrusteesandasimportantparticipantsinprogramgovernance.

Availableonlineat:

YouthLeadershipInstitute(YLI)–YLIseekstobuildcommunitiesinwhichyoungpeopleandtheiradultalliescometogethertocreatepositivesocialchange.YLIdesignsandimplementscommunity-basedprogramsthatprovideyouthwithleadershipskillsintheareasofdrugandalcoholabuseprevention,philanthropy,andcivicengagement.Buildingonthesereal-worldprogramexperiences,YLIcreatescurriculaandtrainingprogramsthatfostersocialchange

efforts,whilepromotingbestpracticesinthefieldofyouthdevelopment.Availableonlineat:

NationalYouthLeadershipCouncil(NYLC)–NYLCprovidestrainingandtechnicalassistancetoprogramsseekingtoimplementyouthleadershipandservice-learningactivities.Itdevelopstrainingsessionstailoredtomeettheneedsoftheclientthatareledbyatleastoneadultinpartnershipwithatleastoneyoungperson.

Availableonlineat:

InnovationCenter forCommunity andYouthDevelopment–Thecentersupportsthebeliefthatyoungpeopleshouldhavearoleinplanningandimplementingcommunityandorganizationalprogramsandpoliciesthataffectthem.Itpromotesyouth-adultpartnershipsandconnectionsandhasdevelopedanumberofresourcestosupportthesepartnershipsbasedonmutualrespect.

Availableonlineat:

REFERENCES

1HarvardFamilyResearchProject.FindingsfromHFRP’sStudyofPredictorsandParticipationinOut-of-SchoolTimeActivities:FactSheet.Retrieved,10September,2007,from

2Moore,K.,andKahn,J.(2008).Familyandneighborhoodrisks:howtheyrelatetoinvolvementinout-of-schooltimeactivities.Washington,D.C.:ChildTrends.

3Mantooth,L.YouthinGovernance:AGuideForAdultsInvolvingYouthasDecisionMakersonBoards

andCommittees.TheUniversityofTennessee.4-HYouthDevelopment.Retrieved,10September,2007,from

4Ibid.

5Mantooth,L.YouthinGovernance:AGuideForAdultsInvolvingYouthasDecisionMakersonBoardsandCommittees.TheUniversityofTennessee.4-HYouthDevelopment.Retrieved,10September,2007,

from

6Bernard,B.(1991).Fosteringresiliencyinkids:ProtectiveFactorsinthefamily,school,andcommunity.Portland,OR:NorthwestRegionalEducationalLaboratory.

7Ibid.

8Ibid.

9Mantooth,L.

10Ibid.

11Ibid.

12Ibid.

13Ibid.

14Justiniano,J.andScherer,C.(2001).YouthVoice:AGuideForEngagingYouthInLeadershipand

Decision-MakinginServiceLearningPrograms.Washington,D.C.:PointsofLightFoundation.Available at

15Zeldin,S.,Petrokubi,J.,MacNeil,C.(2007).Youth-AdultPartnershipsinCommunityDecisionMaking:WhatdoesitTaketoEngageAdultsinthePractice?ChevyChase,MD:National4HCouncilAvailableat:

16Camino,Linda.(2005)Pitfallsandpromisingpracticesofyouth-adultpartnerships:Anevaluator'sreflections.JournalofCommunityPsychology33:1,75

17Ibid.

18Larson,R.,Walker,K.,andPearce,N.(2005).AComparisonofYouth-DrivenandAdult-DrivenYouth

Programs:BalancingInputsfromYouthandAdults.JournalofCommunityPsychology.33:1,57-74.

19Ibid

20InternationalYouthFoundation.May2007.FieldNotes:ReachingOuttoYouthinHigh-risk

Environments.2(8).

21Mantooth,L.

22Ibid

23Camino,Linda.(2005).

24Justinianno,J.,Scherer,C.(2001).

25Zeldin,S.,McDaniel,A.,Topitzes,D.,Calvart,M.(2000).Youthindecision-making:AStudyoftheimpactsonadultsandorganizations.ChevyChase,MD:National4-HCouncil.

26Camino,L.A.(2000).Youth-adultpartnerships:Enteringnewterritoryincommunityworkandresearch.AppliedDevelopmentalScience,4(1),11-20.

27Camino,Linda.(2005)

28Ibid.

29Camino,L.A.(2000).Youth-adultpartnerships:Enteringnewterritoryincommunityworkandresearch.AppliedDevelopmentalScience,4(1),11-20.

30Bell,Jone.UnderstandingAdultist:AKeytoDevelopingPositiveYouth-AdultRelationships.Retrieved,September26,2007,from

31Zeldin,etal.(2005)

32Zeldin,(2004)

33Ibid.

34Zeldin,S.,Camino,L.,andMook,C.(2005).Theadoptionofinnovationinyouthorganizations:

Creatingtheconditionsforyouth-adultpartnerships.JournalofCommunityPsychology33:1,126

35Zeldin,Shepherd.

(2004. YouthasAgentsofAdultandCommunityDevelopment:MappingtheProcessesandOutcomesof

YouthEngagedinOrganizationalGovernance.AppliedDevelopmentalScience8:2,75-90

36Ibid.

37Mantooth,L.YouthinGovernance:AGuideForAdultsInvolvingYouthasDecisionMakersonBoardsandCommittees.TheUniversityofTennessee.4-HYouthDevelopment.Retrieved,10September,2007,from

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