Partnerships That Matter: Strengthening Youth-Adult Connections
Partnerships between youth workers and young people build trust and strong connections. Those connections are key to sustaining motivation. However, there is growing concern that youth seem less motivated and more disconnected.
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Why it matters
This lack of motivation isn't just a problem for the youth. It affects the entire community. When young people disengage, it can lead to issues like poor school performance, increased risky behavior, and missed opportunities.
But there’s hope. By working together and finding new ways to connect, youth workers can help reignite the spark in young people.
Most importantly, your partnership with a young person holds significant power. Extensive research highlights the positive impact of a healthy, supportive partnership between a youth and youth workers. It’s crucial that adults recognize their role in shaping young lives.
Use an empathy lens
Before diving in, always approach young people with empathy. Put yourself in their shoes to overcome biases and assumptions.
Now, here are some ideas on how to motivate young people:
- Listen First, Talk Later: When you actively listen to their concerns, young people feel heard and are more likely to open up and engage.
- Build Trust Through Respect: Acknowledge their opinions, avoid judgment, and be consistent.
- Be Relatable and Genuine: Young people are quick to spot when someone is being fake. Share your own experiences and be honest about your challenges and mistakes.
- Encourage Collaboration and Participation: Enable the space for them to get involved in planning and decision making.
- Connect Activities to Real-Life Goals: Show young people how what they're doing now can help them in the future, making it easier for them to see the purpose behind their efforts.
- Model Positive Behavior: Lead by example. Your actions, like showing empathy, can inspire young people more than words alone.
Connecting with young people takes time, effort, and patience. But by staying persistent and showing commitment, you can build trust and make a lasting impact. Remember, trust doesn’t happen overnight. With patience and care you can create a strong foundation for connection.
Aim for partnerships
Motivating young people starts with a relationship of trust which leads to partnerships. Consider the lines of communication that you’ve established in your program. Here are some questions to consider when you are trying to measure your program's effectiveness.
- Have the programs or activities been shaped by the voices of young people or could we partner with youth to make them better?
- What power have we afforded young people in our programs?
- How well do our staff reflect the served youth?
Finally, when we work together and strengthen these connections, we empower young people to believe in themselves and their future. And that’s a win for everyone. Be prepared for conflict and challenges. While it can be intimidating to think about the roadblocks, it’s important to not shy away from it when it arises.
To learn more about how to motivate young people, check out our training on Supporting Effective Youth-Adult Partnerships.
About the author
Gaonu Yang is the grantee member advocate of the Youth Intervention Programs Association (YIPA), a non-profit association of youth-serving organizations. We're your source for exceptional, affordable, personal and professional online learning via The Professional Youth Worker. Join us!
To ask Gaonu a question or share your feedback about this blog, email gaonu@yipa.org.
