BUILDING A TEAM
2. RECRUITING STRATEGIES Spreading the word.
A solid group composition is foundational
to achieving a positive culture and is
imperative to the success of the youth
advisory council. • Offer several choices for school communication
methods:
Consider scheduling the appropriate time to plan
and implement recruitment strategies.
Create recruitment messages.
• Use the following to highlight messages
for youth:
• Benefits of participating on the
youth council.
• Mission and high-level goals of the
youth council (see examples).
• Deadline for application.
• Time commitment, meeting details,
location.
• Consider a promotional video.
• Use the following to highlight messages for
adults (e.g., school leaders, teachers, parents):
• Benefits of youth participation:
- - Increased academic competencies, 21st
century skills, school and community
connection/engagement.
- - Increased leadership qualities in youth:
creativity, resiliency, self-advocacy and
community engagement.
• Connection to district/school vision:
- - Improved district and school
goals, graduation outcomes,
initiatives/programs, policy,
major improvement strategies.
• Recruit students in a way that correlates with the
culture and practices of your school/community.
• Ask schools what communication mode
they prefer and/or whether they would be
willing to provide email language, posters,
morning announcement language, flyers,
newsletter language, etc.
• Communicate by letter, email, and/
or phone with school administration/
leadership and counselors.
• Reach out to personal contacts at each
school for youth references, whenever
possible.
• Make personal visits to school/community
organization with a “goodie bag drop”
(e.g., flyers, posters, free giveaways, fruit
baskets) to identified staff members and/or
teams at each school.
• Youth should be part of the recruitment
process:
• Design a friendly competition between
existing team members for achieving
recruitment goals, and consider offering
incentives.
• Some schools allow their students to tie their
work to existing initiatives, courses, or programs
such a community service effort, club projects,
or student council initiatives.
• Determine if your district/school wants/
requires a permission slip for students
to participate.
• Purpose and high-level goals for youth
advisory council.
• See examples of flyers.
THIS STEP MAY TAKE SUBSTANTIAL TIME!
10
CREATING YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCILS