June 2008Vol. 9, No. 5Involving Youth in Their Own Plans
Youth who have meaningful involvement in their treatment, education, or case plans are more likely to work toward the outcomes, and these youth gain valuable experience in making plans and setting goals. Human services providers responsible for youth plans—including case plans for youth in foster care, Individualized Education Plans, and treatment plans—will find guidance for meaningful youth involvement in a new suite of materials from the Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children's Mental Health (RTC) at Portland State University. Materials include the following:
- "Achieve My Plan" is a video that features interviews with youth who describe, in their own words, what it is like to be left out of a planning process that involves their future.
- Involving Youth in Planning for Their Education, Treatment and Services: Research Tells Us We Should Be Doing Better summarizes research on this topic and confirms that youth involvement is beneficial for youth and their families.
- Best Practices for Increasing Meaningful Youth Participation in Collaborative Team Planning is a handbook that covers such topics as developing organizational support for youth, helping youth prepare to participate, creating a safe environment for youth, and measuring youth participation.
- A self-assessment quiz allows human services organizations to rate their support of meaningful youth participation.
- Those who view the video or other materials can post their comments on a discussion site at www.rtc.pdx.edu/FeaturedDiscussions/pgFD53.php
Materials can be viewed and downloaded from the RTC site:
