Youth Involvement in Systems of Care: A Guide to Empowerment January 2005 Marlene Matarese, M.S.W Lorrin McGinnis Martha Mora Reflections from the Field are technical assistance products inspired by stories, questions, and needs of system of care communities. Each document in the series aims to educate the reader on a specific topic, providing insights, answers, and resources. Reflections from the Field have been created in part by the Technical Assistance Partnership. To the extent possible, family members, youth, and professionals from system of care communities have reviewed each product. Please direct all inquiries to: Technical Assistance Partnership 1000 Thomas Jefferson St., NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20007 [email protected] Acknowledgments This guide could not be developed without the resources and A special thanks to Barbara Huff and The Federation of expertise of youth, youth coordinators, and other experts. We Families for Children’s Mental Health for leading the way for would like to acknowledge and thank the individuals who also young people’s involvement and engagement in developing reviewed and supported the development of this guide including: a national Youth Movement. Bianca Jay; Jane Tobler; Stephanie Lane M.S.W; Victor Damian; Keva White; Kristina Hebner; Angela Pacinella; Myra Alfreds; Tricia Gurley; Eva Dech; Dally Sanchez; Daniel Contributing Authors: Toone; Nicole Penrielli; Jack Austin; Tahnee Camacho; Mike Eva Dech, Mike Friedman, Rachel Freed, Bianca Jay, Friedman; Rachel Freed; Phyllis Gyamfi , Ph.D.; Natalie Stephanie Lane M.S.W, and Dally Sanchez. Henrich, Ph.D.; Laura Casteneda, M.S.W.; Holly Echo-Hawk, M.S.; Larke Huang, Ph.D.; Carlos Rodriguez, Ph.D; and Regenia Hicks, Ph.D. A special thanks to Youth Forum in Disclaimer: Westchester, NY for hosting our review meeting. The views, opinions, and content of this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily refl ect the views, We would also like to acknowledge the continual support opinions, or policies of SAMHSA or DHHS. of Gary Blau, Ph.D. and Diane Sondheimer, M.S.N., M.P.H. and the entire Substance Abuse and Mental Health The names and stories of the young people in this guide Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, are real and the individuals gave us permission to print their Child, Adolescent, and Family Branch staff. CMHS had the stories and quotations with their names. foresight and commitment to youth engagement to fund a full-time youth coordinator position with the Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health. It is because of their ongoing philosophical and fi nancial support that this guide was made possible. Contents Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................ iii Youth Involvement in Systems of Care: A Guide to Empowerment ........................................ ix Preface ........................................................................................................................... xi Purpose of the Guide ...................................................................................................... xiii A Walk Through the Guide ...................................................................................... xiii I. Youth Involvement: Moving From a Good Idea to a Necessary Solution .............................. 1 Building the Rationale: Why We Do It ........................................................................ 1 Positive Youth Development Approach ...................................................................... 3 II. Who Benefi ts From Youth Involvement? ........................................................................ 11 Benefi ts for Youth ................................................................................................... 11 Benefi ts for Families ............................................................................................... 11 Benefi ts for Adults .................................................................................................. 11 Benefi ts for Organizations ....................................................................................... 11 Benefi ts for Planners and Policymakers ................................................................... 12 Benefi ts for the Community ..................................................................................... 12 III. History of the System of Care Youth Movement ............................................................ 13 Families Paving the Way ......................................................................................... 13 Youth Gain Momentum ........................................................................................... 13 Surgeon General’s Conference on Child Mental Health ............................................ 13 System of Care Community Meeting in Atlanta ......................................................... 14 System of Care Community Meeting in Puerto Rico ................................................. 14 Rosalynn Carter 17th Annual Symposium ................................................................ 15 New Freedom Commission Youth Presentation in Chicago ....................................... 15 Youth Involvement Today ........................................................................................ 15 vi Contents IV. Advancing the Youth Movement: Establishing the Value Base ....................................... 17 How Do You View Youth Involvement? ..................................................................... 17 Values of the Youth Movement ................................................................................ 18 Keep It Positive: Be Strength-based ......................................................................... 19 Participation = Shared Power & Empowerment ........................................................ 20 Recognizing and Avoiding Adultism ......................................................................... 21 Cultural and Linguistic Competency: Valuing Diversity ............................................. 22 Valuing Youth Culture .............................................................................................. 22 V. Getting Started: Hiring the Coordinator and Forming the Group ....................................... 25 Involving Youth: The Role of the Youth Coordinator .................................................. 25 Developing the Youth Group .................................................................................... 26 VI. Cultivating the Environment for Growing Leaders ......................................................... 31 Leadership Development and Empowerment ........................................................... 31 Building and Sustaining Relationships Through Youth–Adult Partnership ................. 32 Providing Training and Skill Development ................................................................ 34 Guiding Principles of Cultural and Linguistic Competency ........................................ 34 Learn Essential Facilitation and Confl ict Resolution Skills ......................................... 37 VII. Youth Involvement in Systems of Care: Making It Happen ............................................ 39 What Do Youth Groups Do? ..................................................................................... 39 Developing a Community Event ............................................................................... 39 Getting Youth on Board ........................................................................................... 40 Creating Opportunities for Youth Roles in Evaluation ................................................ 43 Social Marketing: Youth Getting the Word Out! ......................................................... 45 Sustaining Youth Involvement .................................................................................. 47 Barriers and Solutions to Youth Involvement ............................................................ 47 What Makes Youth Involvement Successful? ............................................................ 48 Youth Involvement in Systems of Care: A Guide to Empowerment Contents vii VIII. On the Horizon ......................................................................................................... 49 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 50 IX. Resources for Youth Involvement ................................................................................ 51 Youth Participation in Evaluation/Research .............................................................. 51 Youth–Adult Partnerships ........................................................................................ 52 Youth Participation on Boards and Committees ....................................................... 52 Youth Development Approach/Theory/Practice ........................................................ 52 Youth Development and Civic Engagement/Action ................................................... 53 Youth Participation in Community Planning ............................................................. 55 Youth Group Experiences and Examples .................................................................. 55 Guides/Training/Tool Kits ......................................................................................... 56 Cultural