NCJ Number
222619
Journal
The Prevention Researcher Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2008 Pages: 16-20
Date Published
April 2008
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study examined the outcomes that might emerge when organizations adopted Youth-Adult Partnership (Y-AP) as a core organization approach to practice.
Abstract
The study found that positive outcomes occurred when organizations adopted Y-AP as a priority. Y-AP involves the structuring and promotion of adult-youth cooperation in decisionmaking and collective action that impacts the community. Y-AP achieved positive impact on youth development, the development of adult staff involved in community enterprises, adult professional leaders in the community, and community institutions. Youth gained a sense of belonging and value in community life and gained confidence in their ability to work with other youth and adults in addressing and resolving complex community problems. Adult staff learned to release monopolistic control over decisionmaking and cultivate the involvement and decisionmaking of youth in cooperative youth-adult undertakings. Adult community leaders learned that youth were more competent, insightful, and committed to community values than they had previously recognized. Community institutions that have promoted Y-AP have experienced a new energy, outreach, and involvement among youth in community activities and the willingness of adults to view and promote youth as an important constituency in community-building. Case studies of two organizations were conducted. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with 22 current "youth mobilizers," 1 former youth mobilizer, and 3 young adult staff who were former youth mobilizers. Most participants were youth of color from families with limited economic means. Interviews were also conducted with 12 staff and board members and 8 community leaders who had partnered with or were familiar with the work of the 2 organizations. The interviews were complemented with observations of Y-AP in community meetings, public events, and educational activities. 1 figure and 6 references