Barriers to Youth and Adult Partnerships

Many barriers are logistical and organizational in nature. with young people as partners. What is a barrier to a young person, is not necessarily a barrier to an adult, and vice versa.

Potential Barriers to Avoid

• Schedule of Meetings — it may be necessary to schedule meetings in the evenings or on weekends to accommodate young peoples’ school schedules. Compromise is the key to working this out.
• Transportation — meetings should be held at accessible locations.
• Food — carefully choose meals that are affordable for young people, or plan to pay for their meals.
• Equipment and Support — youth should have the same equipment as their adult counterparts.
• Procedures and Policies — appropriate policies should be in place to guide certain aspects of youth-adult partnerships, keeping in mind young peoples’ need for independence. This includes such things as how overnight travel will be arranged, consent forms required for participation, and address the legal liability of the organization.
• Training — provide opportunity for youth and adults to participate in training together to build trust and understanding.

The Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development offers an interesting list provided by young people and adults. When asked, “What is the greatest challenge a young person/adult brings in their ability to effectively work with adults/youth?,” the responses included: