8 Steps to Establishing a Thriving Youth Advisory Council

Posted by National Youth Leadership Council on December 3, 2024

Amplifying youth voice is crucial for building strong, inclusive communities and organizations. Starting a Youth Advisory Council (YAC) provides a powerful platform for engaging young people and ensuring their perspectives shape your organization’s policies and priorities.

A Youth Advisory Council serves a pivotal role in guaranteeing that the perspectives and concerns of young people are not just acknowledged, but integrated into decision-making processes affecting them directly. Young people participate in programs – why not ask them what they need? What are their suggestions to your policy discussions that have to do with youth? How might your agency, school, or program benefit from ideas from young people?

Youth Councils offer many benefits, like teaching leadership skills, building connections between youth, adults, and organizations, and maintaining a youth-centric approach to programs and services. However, launching a successful and thriving Youth Advisory Council takes careful planning. We’ve seen groups excited to involve young people without designing an experience that is sustainable and inclusive. When this happens, the YAC is at risk of dissolving, which slows down future efforts in this work. So, as you get started, focus on these 8 steps to help you create an experience that benefits and supports both youth and your organization!

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