Executive Summary

1. What Results Do You Want?

Successful youth engagement strategies require that youth have genuine and meaningful opportunities to work with each other and with policymakers to impact issues of importance.  Effective initiatives respect the value of young people in public problem-solving and provide young people and adults with information, tools and support to work effectively together as partners, allowing opportunities for youth to take ownership of parts of the process, mobilize others and become powerful role models. It is important to be inclusive in planning and working with youth, placing particular emphasis on engaging young people who have not traditionally been included in community youth development opportunities and recognizing and valuing diversity (including ethnic, racial and socio-economic). By creating opportunities for youth civic engagement, policymakers promote the healthy development of young people.  Civic engagement provides young people with opportunities to gain work experience, acquire new skills, and to learn responsibility and accountability—all while contributing to the good of their communities.

2. How Are Your Kids?

Youth civic engagement leads to reduced risky behavior, increased success in school and greater civic participation later in life.   However, youth today are less likely than those in earlier generations to exhibit many important characteristics of citizenship.  State policymakers across the country are working to engage youth in positive opportunities for civic participation, which is important for healthy youth development and for the health and performance of democracy.  Unfortunately, in spite of these efforts, a study from the National Conference of State Legislatures found that more young people can name an American Idol winner than know the political party of their state’s governor.  Furthermore, the study found that many young people between ages of 18 to 24 do not understand the principals of citizenship, are disengaged from the political process, lack the knowledge necessary for effective government and have limited appreciation of American democracy.  Learn more about root causes, review data on youth civic engagement for your state and see guidance for setting projection and targets.

3. What Can Policymakers Do?

     Strategies

Promote youth voter registration

• Provide youth with ongoing training in civic participation
• Require voter education/registration drives
• Organize candidate forums with youth

Establish opportunities for authentic youth voice in government

• Create and support state youth advisory councils
• Involve youth in local mapping and planning efforts
• Establish/support youth-run grant programs

Promote diverse forms of youth service  

• Fund school service-learning programs
• Organize a state community service campaign
• Host a state youth summit

Promote policies to support youth engagement

• Create a state-wide youth bill of rights
• Support policies to encourage youth voting and increase access

     Success Story:  Washington

4. How Can You Ensure Success?

Guidance on successful  implementation and  accountability strategies to promote youth civic engagement.    

5. How Can You Sustain Success?   

Guidance on financing and investing in results.