Degrees of Youth Participation

This resource, provided by the National 4H Council’s Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development, will help your chapter assess the quality and level of youth participation in your chapter.

Youth and Adult Initiated and Directed Designed and run by youth and adults in full partnership.

Youth-Initiated, Shared Decisions with Adults Designed and run by youth who share decisions with adults.

Youth Initiated and Directed Designed and run by youth and decisions made by adults.

Adult Initiated, Shared Decisions with Youth Designed and run by adults who share decision-making with youth.

Consulted and Informed Designed and run by adults who consult with youth. Youth make recommendations that are considered by youth.

Assigned but Informed Youth did not initiate, but understand and have some sense of ownership

Tokenism Symbolic representation by few. May not have genuine voice. May be asked to speak for the group they represent.

Decoration Adults use youth to promote or support a cause without informing youth. Youth are not involved in design or decision-making.

Manipulation Youth involvement used by adults to communicate adults’ messages.

Provided by the National 4H Council’s Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development