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Welcome to the Preparing for Change Webpage

Welcome! Adult allies play an important role in empowering youth in creating community change through youth-led programs (YLP). Adult allies seek to achieve this change through involving youth in both the planning and development of initiatives, programs, and policies. The guidance and support of adult allies are critical to this work. Adult-guided environments are structured, supportive and provide space for youth-directed conversations and collaboration as youth discuss topics that are important to them as part of a larger community.

Are you ready to start a YLP? To support those interested in “initiating and sustaining youth-led programs, we created a series of resources that can be used for those preparing to start a YLP. Watch this short introductory video to see how these resources can support YLP in your community.

How do adult allies create an environment for young people to lead community change?

Are YOU Ready to Start a Youth-Led Program?

The Youth-Led Program Readiness Assessment is a tool designed to help individuals assess their readiness to start a youth-led program.

Download Readiness Tool

The Adult Ally Tip Sheet, coupled with the YLP Readiness Assessment, provides individuals with both benefits and characteristics of effective adult allies. Do YOU have the characteristics of an effective adult ally?

Download Tip Sheet

Explainer Video

This short explainer video shows how YLP translates youth voice into youth action by empowering young people to impact their community through their involvement in both planning and development. How can YOU use this information to empower youth to create change in YOUR community?

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Youth-Led Programs

Briefing Papers and Resources

These briefing papers provide readers with how YLP are conceptualized, the theories that inform effective YLPs, and the role adult allies play in the process. How do YOU plan to use these papers to inform YOUR role in YLP?

Click here to download

Click here to download
Click here to learn more about Adultism

Podcasts

Want to hear more about empowering young people from adult allies in the field? These podcasts provide listeners with first-hand experiences in empowering young people through YLP. How do YOU plan to use this these podcasts in YOUR journey to empower young people?

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History of Youth Led Programs in Ohio
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How to Get Started
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Adultism

Voices from the Field: How Adult Allies Are Using These Resources

Carly Griffith

Carly Griffith

Talbert House

Clinton County

Ohio Adult Allies Podcast

As a newer Ohio Adult Ally, I have used and will continue to use the Ohio Adult Allies Podcast. Seeing and hearing successes, challenges, and relatable stories from other Ohio Adult Allies, I feel comforted and reassured that I am giving my Youth-Led Prevention group all of the support they need to make the changes they want to see. Listening to the podcast is one of the best resources for auditory learners and is one of the easiest ways to learn about evidence-based practices such as the Youth-Led Prevention Framework and Strategic Planning Framework model. As much as it helps me learn more, it can help youth who are involved in a Youth-Led Prevention group understand more about Youth-Led Prevention in general.

Belon Hill

Belon Hill

Youth to Youth International

Franklin County

Tip Sheet and YLP Readiness Assessment

I plan on using the Tip Sheet and YLP Readiness Assessment during my time helping with the Regional Learning Collaborative. This will be a great tool to share with our adult participants to guide them in understanding YLP and identifying candidates that will best fit the description of an adult ally. I also plan on sharing these tools with the Montgomery County Prevention Coalition as a resource they can use for their new program called Youth Leadership in Prevention. They will be able to use both the tip sheet and assessment during the times that they plan on hosting multiple trainings for the adult advisors.

Hannah Click

Hannah Click

Health Recovery Services

Gallia County

Tip Sheet and YLP Readiness Assessment

I have found the Tip Sheet and YLP Readiness Assessment to be incredibly helpful. The breakdown of the characteristics of an adult ally on the Tip Sheet can be used to help ensure that the right fit is found for an adult ally position. It gives a great outline of what is expected of you on a personal level, and helps you better connect with the youth. I plan to share the Tip Sheet and YLP Readiness Assessment with our adult coalition as a resource that they can use to better support our youth and their needs when it comes to finding adult allies for our Youth Led Prevention