from YAPRap October 2003
by Al Bingham
Why should youth services bother to work with schools? Let's face it, a lot of young people spend a lot of time in school. Dialogue has been taking place for years about how to make schooling more relevant for young people. Co-operation between youth services and schools is one way that this can be achieved.
Many youth services these days try to work with young people in high schools. Some find this an easy undertaking whereas others have more difficulty in accessing students or working with teachers. At the recent YAPA State Conference a session was delivered on different approaches to working with schools. Many pertinent questions were also asked, by youth workers who have found it tough to work with schools. Rather than give a blow by blow account of the session this article will highlight some of the innovative tips given to make working with schools easier.
Tip # 1 - be humble
Many schools distrust youth workers because they aren't under the authority of the school. To overcome this barrier youth workers can demonstrate humility by following school rules and submitting to the authority of the school principal and teachers. By doing this they will earn the respect of the school for them and their programs. In turn schools may start to see the success of the youth service's programs and come to regard youth workers as an important contribution to the school environment.
Tip # 2 - Work long term
It can take a long time to build a relationship between a youth service and a school. Youth workers have to demonstrate that they are willing to put value into a school, not just expect the school to bend over backwards for them. This can take many years and involve youth workers doing things like helping out with sporting days, swimming clinics, study skills days, etc. Once youth services are allowed to start running programs in schools it is important for these programs to be seen by teachers as being educational as well as fun. Teachers can come to see the good relationship between the youth workers and the students. A consistent approach to working with a school demonstrates that youth workers are prepared to put in time and effort and won't just go away overnight.
Tip # 3 - Put it in writing
Written proposals can make it easier for schools to allow youth programs in. They act like a more formal agreement and indicate that youth services are being very up front and transparent about what they are intending to do with students. Nothing makes schools more nervous than vague proposals, in this age of litigation, global budgeting and hands on parental involvement. It can be effective to present proposals to teachers in an easily read, one page format. Be clear on what you will be offering and set out your program day by day, so it can be easily seen what you will be doing each step of the way.
Tip # 4 - Use what you have
If issues besides the ones you have agreed to discuss start coming up in the programs you are running, you can negotiate to run a lunch time program, rather than take up extra class time addressing them. Fun activities can be used to draw students to a lunch time session eg. basketball competitions, ticket giveaways, free food, etc. Young people can organise lunch time activities, along with the youth workers. In this way a youth action group can be formed. Lunch times can also be used to do some play ground 'street work' eg. distributing holiday activity flyers, pamphlets on relevant issues, information about different services, etc. It's important to have all material checked first by the school to make sure it is considered appropriate for students. Youth workers can also advertise their services through school assemblies and lift their profile by taking part in school presentations.
Tip # 5 - Work with teachers
Youth workers can educate teachers as to what their role is through staff training days. By dealing with issues faced by students, youth workers may also be educating any teachers present. Encourage the school to use youth service programs as examples to showcase how they are working effectively with the community. To achieve the overall outcome of supporting young people, sometimes youth services first have to support teachers. Once teachers feel comfortable with youth workers they will be more likely to refer students to their programs, or even approach youth workers for support with addressing student issues. Youth service programs can be tailored to address issues raised by the school.
Tip # 6 - Evaluate
Nothing says 'merit' louder than a service that has been evaluated, and shown to be effective. Even more so, a service that has been externally evaluated more than once. Schools love statistics that prove they were smart in letting youth workers run programs. So do funding bodies.
Tip # 7 - Be aware
Don't recreate the wheel. It's best to find out what programs are already on offer and work with these, if it becomes apparent that students have an issue that isn't being dealt with. Some examples of existing programs are: attendance programs (home school liaison officers), disability programs (mental and physical), behaviour programs (most schools have a behaviour team), ESL programs (English as a Second Language), priority schools funding programs (money for disadvantaged schools), young people at risk programs (for young people in individual schools or at a District level eg. Gateways). Sometimes the District Office (DO) can assist youth services by acting as a broker to set up youth service programs within schools.
Tip # 8 - Listen
Hear what all stakeholders in a school have to say, including teachers and parents, not just students. In this way youth workers can get a 360 ° view of the best way to proceed, one that will involve all parties in the most effective manner. Know the policies, procedures and protocols of the school and be non-confrontational. Ask schools what they need from the youth service, don't tell them what they need. Always remember that schools are huge agencies with many stakeholders to deal with. A youth service is only one voice amongst many. Schools are required to fulfil many different requirements. Youth workers can assist in shouldering some of this burden, rather than be seen as adding to it. Find out what existing programs you can support, rather than recreating the wheel. It is always best to be seen in the position of problem solver, working alongside a school.
Tip # 9 - Explain
It can be useful to explain to teachers that young people find it difficult to concentrate on education when they have other issues in their life that aren't being addressed. Youth workers can sell themselves as another tool for teachers to use. Saying something to teachers like 'I'm going to add some things to your tool kit for the classroom' makes them more likely to listen to what you have to offer, as opposed to saying that you are going to give them information. Teachers can feel awash in information. Youth workers can put their programs to teachers in the form of how it fits into their different subject programs. In this way a keen drama teacher might invite a youth worker into their classroom to examine issues. A lot of youth issues fit into the Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) syllabus. Youth workers can also show that they can complement school programs such as school counselling. Young people don't always want to go to the school counsellor to discuss an issue, so schools can facilitate links to youth services to let students know what else is out there to assist them.
Tip # 10 - Try, try again
Ever wanted to know some tried and true tactics to get your service into a school? Give some of the following a go:
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Ask the school what their issues are and let them say that they could achieve more if they had more support. Then offer to assist.
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Build trust and credibility by showing that you understand the objectives of the school.
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Get to know the school and its issues and the culture in the staff.
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Find any teacher that's enthusiastic and has a good rapport with the students. Some people may be in a good position to help you access students, but can actually get in the way of youth service objectives if seen by students as too authoritarian.
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Find any other 'ally' in the school. Year Advisors are often keen and have the interests of students firmly at heart. Ask them if they have noticed any issues among their students that are causing concern.
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Work around safety guidelines etc to make teachers feel comfortable to support programs before they go ahead.
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Hang around the school a lot. Speak on school assemblies. Help out at cross country days or swim school. Offer to help at school dances. Talk to teachers and students at these events.
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Explain to teachers that, if young people don't get information through educators, they tend to look for it from friends and through media, which can often be very unreliable.
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Attend any function that students invite you to eg. presentation days, formals, etc. Make sure you check with the school first, if you aren't sure whether it's appropriate for you to attend.
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Offer to coach a sporting group. Often teachers are lumped with these and are delighted if someone else comes along to help out.
- If it takes a while to get a program set up in a school, keep trying. Look for an area where the school needs support. Sometimes the music teacher can be all too happy for someone to take a few unpaid guitar lessons. If at first you don't succeed, keep on trying.
Who gave these tips?
- Meredith - Reconnect, Cessnock Samaritans
- Maj Harris - Gateways Program, DET Fairfield District Office
- Jocelyn Ling - Ted Noffs Foundation, Schools Alcohol and Other Drugs Program
- Michelle Nicholson - NSW Officer, MindMatters, DET
- Rossanna Umansky and Paola Alvarez - Coolaburoo Neighbourhood Centre, Revesby/ Bankstown
