Recommendations
for Youth Programs & Activities
in
Word doc. format
The following are a set of recommendations for organizations
providing out-of-school time programming and activities
for youth of all ages. These guidelines have been created
by the Windham County Youth Initiative to ensure that
all efforts are unified in providing quality programming
to achieve the following shared outcomes for the youth
of Windham County .
• Families are stable and supportive
• Youth choose healthy behaviors
• Youth are empowered
• Youth become productive contributing
citizens
• Youth make decisions and
have useful roles. Young people need
to be respected and safe. It is important to give
young people the opportunity to make age appropriate
decisions about activities they are involved with.
It is also important to give them useful roles
that utilize their talents and energy while helping
them develop new skills. Programs will be enhanced
as those being served are valued and given opportunities
to contribute and lead.
There are a variety of ways to empower youth in your
programs. For example, seek their input regarding what
activities to provide; involve them in setting expectations
they have for one another and engage them in holding
each other accountable in working toward these expectations;
have young people on the board of your organization;
hire them as junior staff; and/or support them in developing
projects that serve the community.
• Adequate adult supervision
to create relationships with young people and to
enforce policies. Young people need
positive adult role models that support and encourage
them to do their best. Out-of-school activities
are a perfect place for young people to develop
these important relationships with adults outside
their family.
• Clear goals and objectives
for all programs. In order to determine
a program's effectiveness, clear goals and defined
objectives need to be developed and tracked. Evaluation
of these goals should engage all stakeholders in
the program including youth participants, their
parents, collaborators and staff.
• Activities take place in
a safe environment. It is imperative
that precautions are taken to ensure that young
people are kept safe while participating in activities.
• All staff and volunteers
trained in Developmental Assets, Risk and Protective
Factors and substance abuse prevention. Developmental
Assets are the building blocks necessary for young
people to grow up healthy, caring and responsible.
Risk and Protective Factors help identify areas
of focus to help reduce the risk of and increase
protection from youth choosing unhealthy behaviors.
Programs and policies can be designed to help build
developmental assets and address risk and protective
factors.
Adults working with young people can have a profound
impact on the choices kids make. It is important for
staff and volunteers to gain knowledge and skills regarding
substance abuse prevention strategies appropriate for
the ages they work with. Local trainers are available,
free of charge, to provide these trainings.
• Policies in place regarding
boundaries and expectations for staff and youth
participating in activities. Clear
boundaries and expectations provide a predictable
environment that helps young people feel safe and
comfortable. Boundaries and expectations help staff
and volunteers know how to interact appropriately
with young people and how to deal with specific
situations.
An example is a "zero tolerance" policy stating that
young people cannot participate in activities if they
are under the influence of alcohol, tobacco or other
drugs. Clear action steps should be in place to help
support any young person that violates this policy
(i.e. 1. Ensure the safety of the young person 2. Call
the young person's parent/guardian 3. Refer the young
person to support services in the community).
It is also recommended that specific policies be in
place to prevent child abuse. These policies include,
but are not limited to, conducting criminal background
checks on all adults working in the presence of youth;
making sure all one-on-one time spent with a young
person is in a space with other people around; providing
clear definitions of sexual harassment, bullying, and
sexual abuse; and developing clear procedures to follow
if there is suspicion of child abuse.
• Collaborate with existing
organizations, when appropriate, so that resources
are used to their full potential and duplication
of services is minimized. Working
together with other organizations creates strong,
comprehensive efforts that serve our young people
well. Increased communication and resource sharing
between organizations build connections that ensure
young people will not fall through the cracks.
Strong collaborations also help to bring financial
resources into our community.
When appropriate, consider the following.
• Opportunities to develop
skills, knowledge and attitudes that can help them
refrain from using substances. Young
people are inundated with messages about alcohol,
tobacco and other drugs. It is around them every
day and youth often face situations where they
must choose whether to use these substances or
not. Out-of-school programs can help young people
learn how to process the messages they receive,
gain the facts about different substances and develop
skills to deal with different situations and make
good choices.
• Opportunities for meaningful
service to the community. It is important
for young people to learn the value in giving back
to their community. Planning and implementing community
service projects with young people can help them
develop a variety of skills and gain new perspectives.
• Opportunities
for family involvement. Providing opportunities
for families to share in their child's out-of-school
activities builds stronger support systems for young
people. Family members can share in acknowledging their
child's accomplishments, while program staff can communicate
with family members regarding the best ways to provide
support.
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