April 14, 2020
4-H Mission Essentials: Youth-Adult Partnerships
Being Extension professionals responsible for bringing the latest in scientific knowledge to inform our daily practices, what does the science say about Youth-Adult partnerships?
Essential to success of growing responsibility within youth is the ability to demonstrate age appropriate youth-adult partnerships involving activities of shared value.
4-H Youth Development programs have been characterized historically as providing substantive opportunities for youth to find and practice using their voice. But what do I mean by youth voice? Youth Voice is the term used to describe the ability of young people to grow in confidence and competence in sharing their perspective with adults and peers. Youth voice is validated and grown when developed in a supportive culture of learning and community.
Youth Choice is a term used to describe the decision-making abilities in partnership with adults and peers. Youth choice is a tangible way in which youth demonstrate belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. When youth are given or entrusted something of value, it becomes the opportunity to exercise responsibility by growing their perspective (youth voice) and acting on that perspective with decision making (youth choice). It is important for any successful partnership to see the value in the other. In 4-H’s case, youth seeing value in the perspective and assets of adults as well as adults seeing value in the perspective and assets of youth in decision making. Each and every day provides the opportunity to grow youth voice and exercise youth voice in the context of youth-adult partnerships in Kansas 4-H!
I encourage you to consider the resources listed below to enhance your understanding and application of Youth-Adult Partnerships within 4-H Youth Development programming. During this season of disruption and refining of 4-H programs, engaging youth in decision-making is essential to growing program ownership and leadership. Together we can get through this.
Our methods are changing but our 4-H Mission remains the same.
Resources:
Kansas 4-H Professional Development Resources:
https://www.kansas4-h.org/resources/professional_development.html
https://www.kansas4-h.org/resources/4-h-library/council/docs/YouthAdultPartners.pdf
Iowa State Youth Adult Partnership Guide https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/Youth-as-Partners-Approach
Wisconsin Youth-Adult Partnership Training https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/youthadultpartnership-training/
A guide to youth-adult partnerships http://4h.ucanr.edu/files/2423.pdf