Creating Youth Advisory Councils KPCO_CreatingYouthAdvisoryCouncilsToolKit_April201 | Page 20

I   CREATING SUSTAINABILITY Transitions are inevitable and there may be changes in staff and youth membership during the school year or year-to-year. Tips for building a sustainable youth advisory council. • Include the youth council as part of a district or school job/position description. • Develop an online platform as a repository for communications, information for all projects (current and past), and history of the council. Tips from the YOUTH. • Youth leaders create other youth leaders. • Involve the entire school community. • Have an end goal. • Mix it up for better solutions. • Recruit and ensure the youth council includes high school freshman, sophomores, and juniors in addition to seniors. • Take on policy projects as a youth council. • Document success and impact of youth council projects and impact/behavioral changes of youth council members. • Share success often with district/school and community leadership. Have the youth council present to the board of education and/or at city council meetings. • Consider integrating the youth council into the school day as a credit-earning course or advisory, or modifying the master schedule to allow time for youth groups to meet. MODIFY THIS GUIDE TO FIT YOUR NEEDS! 20 CREATING YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCILS