A New Continuum for Youth Engagement

 I’ve created my own continuum of youth engagement structures. I felt that commonly used imagery for youth engagement, such as Hart’s Ladder, imply a hierarchy within the different types of structures of youth engagement. However, I have seen each of the different types of engagement appropriately and authentically used in diverse circumstances and recommend groups find the best realistic option for each situation. In fact, organizations can and should have multiple opportunities for engagement at different levels to reach different youth and adults.

This continuum divides levels of engagement based on who decides what problem to solve and takes the lead in decision-making, building on a continuum from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

I do not include the bottom rungs of Hart’s Ladder, which cover tokenism, decoration and manipulation. Hart’s Ladder includes them at the bottom to indicate they are to be avoided. I don’t think they warrant the continuum at all. Rather than being forms of engagement, these are examples of oppression and abuse of young people by adults.

Given the drive and opportunity to do so, youth and adults always benefit from seeking one of the three middle structures but either end, done authentically, is better than tokenism or manipulation. For example, adults may find that they cannot or will not share decision-making power with children and youth. In those instances, it’s better that adults inform youth of decisions while providing the same core requirements required for all youth engagement than that they tokenize young people.

Contact me if you would like to set up a training or receive technical assistance on the continuum and how to build different levels of youth engagement.