Youth Coordinator Position - Advice From Coordinator

The Youth Coordinator position is best filled by someone with lived experience who brings more understanding and direction directly to the youth and young adults to guide them as they take different steps into the community.

Starting off the position you will need to create a central binder that holds a record of planning meetings, resources, and other activities carried out by the grant. The Youth Coordinator connects with multiple different partnerships in the community as well as connecting with schools and educational service centers so they are aware of the grant and how to make a proper referral.

The position requires an individual who will attend every meeting and community collaborator meetings along with initial referrals, focus group participants, and youth/young adult participants. It also requires advocating for the TAY and youth with a mental health diagnosis by attending events as a panelist or giving workshops and helping provide youth voice / youth choice for TAY in grant, agency, and community meetings.

The Youth Coordinator should help to reduce transportation and resource barriers for TAY by proposing creative solutions and helping professionals understand where the need is.

Gaining a peer support certification through the state is recommended, and peer support duties (such as mandated reporting) are very helpful to attend.

Educate yourself with as many mental health and developmental disability trainings as your schedule permits, and also provide tips on teaching professionals how to address TAY and communicate with them in the professional setting.

Assist with engagement of TAY clients and provide tips on how to best engage the population. Respond to emails from school staff, other service providers, parents, or TAY themselves regarding TAY needs (food, rental assistance, etc. while waiting for services with the grant).

Chairing the Young Adult Board (YAB)

Begin by creating a group chat that is easy to use for communications with TAY scheduling, sending the handbook for the YAB, recruiting members, and ensuring YAB gives all feedback needed by different facets of the grant. TAY will also post resources occasionally.

Any meetings and links as well as reminders should be posted. TAY should be notified when meetings are created and reminded the day of any meetings. This includes sending forms, minutes and materials, TAY Incentive forms and consultant forms, and lastly, trainings. These will help a new youth coordinator become acclimated to the position and understand what they are supposed to be doing.