Focal Point Fall 2000

Walker, J. S., Pullmann, M., Schutte, K., Fleming, D., Schmit, D., Elizabeth, R., Caplan, E. & Cook, J.

Young people are assuming more, and more empowered roles in systems of care. They participate actively in planning for their own services and treatment, setting policy, and evaluating programs. The article includes a discussion of resources that have been developed to help in the process of developing youth-adult partnership in these areas.

Anonymous

This article summarizes Being Our Own Advocates, a discussion by a panel of youth actively involved in planning, evaluation, and policy making in systems of care at the local, state, and national level.

Maciejewski, G.

This article focus on the history of the idea that children and youth should be recognized as active stakeholders in the design and delivery of human services. Janusz Korczak was an early proponent of child rights and youth empowerment, and the article describes his life and work.

Choi, J.

This article provides some specific suggestions for strategies that can be used in systems of care when adults want to "walk the walk" instead of simply "talking the talk" about promoting youth empowerment.

Linetsky, M.

This article describes the shift in thinking from a deficit approach to a youth development approach–that is altering policy and practice in programs for youth. The authors provide specific examples of how the youth development approach can be put into practice at the service provision level, the organizational level and the policy and funding level.

Almen, R.

This essay describes what one service provider has learned through her efforts to empower the young people she works with.

Stevenson, L.

This article summarizes some specific strategies that have been taken around the nature to involve youth in the design, delivery, and evaluation of services and supports provided in systems of care.

Villines, C.

A family therapist describes techniques for partnering with youth to empower them in treatment.

Chalmers, M.

This article describes how youth development and a strengths–based perspective have been put into practice in a therapeutic foster care program.

Davis, J., Smith, C. & McCants, R.

This article describes Youth Millennium 2000, a program developed to increase youth leadership, resiliency, and socially adaptive behaviors in the home, school, and community environments.

Drake, I.N., Ling, S., Fitch, E. & Hughes, D.M.

This article provides guidance on how to promote youth/adult partnerships for health youth development. Tips are provided for establishing such partnerships.

London, J.

This article describes an innovative program to encourage youth development through youth–led research, evaluation, and planning of youth–serving programs and policies.

Various Youth