AAC
State Government; and the Judicial System and Public Safety. Youth councils should also provide material for personal development, such as material focusing on communication and networking skills, leadership development, financial literacy, and volunteer and community service.
How do you establish a youth council?
Counties establishing a youth council should keep in mind two driving principles: (1) a commitment to building a solid foundation for the program and (2) an unwavering belief that youth engagement in government is good for government. Beyond these two guiding principles, County Youth Council planners can focus on several steps.
1. Form the Foundation: Organize and outline your intentions for the program. What is your vision for this youth council? What is its mission? What objectives and goals does the county have for this program, and how will these objectives be achieved?
2. Assess Community Needs and Program Capacity: What specific community needs do you foresee a youth council might address? What resources are available to you? Are there organizations or individuals in the community that would serve as beneficial strategic partners? Could these organizations or individuals offer their expertise in the planning process, by participating in the program, or by offering community service projects or speaking to program participants?
3. Plan and Develop Capacity: One or more planners should focus on selecting topics of focus, developing curriculum, developing collaboration plans with those who will provide their expertise for the youth council, and developing a scheduling structure. Others should focus on the drafting and adoption of bylaws, drafting the application process, publicizing the youth council, and collaborating with community organizations and key stakeholders to recruit the youth council’s future members.
LAW CLERK UPDATE
4. Seek Feedback: Program planners should seek feedback from community stakeholders on the structure, focus, and curriculum of the council.
5. Plan for Program Maintenance and Sustainability: County Youth Council planners should plan with the future in mind. Will the initial funding be available for additional years? Will the council’s focus depend upon each incoming class of participants, or will it remain set in stone for each year? County Youth Council planners should also plan for program evaluation methods in order to gain feedback from participants, collaborators, and community members and stakeholders on the program. Implemented feedback will serve to strengthen the program, demonstrate its impact, and assist in securing ongoing funding and other resources.
Where do I start?
Tis year, while working as an Association of Arkansas Counties law clerk, I worked to develop a resource guide that puts the tools for creating a youth council into the hands of county officials. Tis resource guide is intended to save county officials time and resources in determining whether a youth council would be beneficial for their counties and, if they decide to do so, planning the youth council. Te full-length guide provides more in-depth information on the background and research-demonstrated need for youth councils, specific guidance for the planning process, and examples of each step along the way. Te guide also includes best practice research from existing youth councils both on the national level and from existing Arkansas programs. If you are interested in forming a youth council or are looking for more information after this overview, you may download the guide at
www.arcounties.org/site/ assets/files/4707/countyyouthcouncilstoolkit.pdf. It is my hope that a guide of this nature will make creating a youth council more accessible and manageable, leading to thriving County Youth Councils that foster civic education, deepen the discussion of local policy issues, and develop leadership and public service values in future community leaders.
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