Representatives from youth-serving agencies, the director of Athens Family and Children First Council, the Athens YouthMOVE adult coordinator, and 2 Athens County youth met at the The Plains Library. High priority remains for identifying and recruiting more youth to participate on the YouthMOVE Athens steering committee.
1. Participants discussed goals for demographics of Athens Youth Council. The following was determined:
- Ages 14-24 would be target age. Councilmembers would be encouraged to serve 2-4 year terms. Councilmembers would age out at 26.
- The youth council will be capped at 15 members.
- A priority was set to recruit councilmembers with lived experience from various systems of care as well as various geographic locations within the county.
- Examples of lived experience within youth-serving systems include: foster care, juvenile justice, mental health, developmental disability, hospitilization due to mental health, substance use disorder (drugs & alcohol), lived in a group home, had an IEP or received special education services, homeless, LGBTQ+, or physical disability.
- A checklist would be added to the county application to indicate attendence at county high schools/colleges, homeschool or workforce.
2. Various ways to get the word out about YouthMOVE Athens was discussed.
- suggestions included: creating dedicated email contact, cover letter/application emailed to community partners, flyers posted at local youth serving community locations, social media, booth/networking at Natural Freedom Youth Suicide Prevention Conference (Aug. 2nd), booth at OU resource fair (and possibly other school resource fairs).
- Tatum volunteered to work on creating a unique YouthMOVE Athens logo.
- Beth volunteered to look into printing YouthMOVE Athens materials. YouthMOVE Ohio uses VistaPrint printing services which can be done through online/mail.
3. Initial round of applications for YouthMOVE Athens councilmembers will be accepted through September 30, 2019.
4. A youth council training/planning retreat was targeted for the month of November. YouthMOVE Ohio will send a team to help with the retreat. Beth volunteered to inquire about dates/location/budget.
5. Family and Children First Council serve youth up to age 21. Therefore, youth 21 and under on council may be able to receive funding from FCFC for YouthMOVE activities. Consideration of funding received from the regional/state YouthMOVE for 22+ was encouraged.
6. Next steering committee meeting date/time/location TBT.
