Youth For Youth Involvement
Youth For Youth Involvement was created by former Youth Advisory Board members which consisted primarily of past clients of Family Youth Interventions and their friends. These members wanted to help other youth in the community grow into positive young adults and benefit as they had. These members asked “Why FYI?” and shared with each other their personal experiences with being involved with Family Youth Interventions. This question, “Why FYI?” became the premises for the development of YFYI: Youth For Youth Involvement.
The purpose of Youth For Youth Involvement (YFYI) is to promote teen development by increasing their involvement in the community and in the evaluation of the Family Youth Interventions (FYI) program. YFYI consists of volunteer members compiled of youth among the community as well as previous clients of FYI. While participating in the YFYI, youth will be asked to evaluate and provide feedback regarding FYI program policies, evaluate materials used for group activities and also address youth needs for clients within the FYI program.
In addition to providing these services to Family Youth Interventions, members will participate in various fundraisers and also perform community service. YFYI members help raise money for YFYI activities, the FYI shelter, as well as for other organizations in the community. A recent fundraiser helped provide funds for four YFYI members to attend and present at the Michigan Network for Youth and Families annual conference in Bay City, MI. The conference brings together runaway and homeless youth providers as well as other youth and social service providers from all over Michigan. Workshops were designed to share innovative ways to assist youth throughout the community. YFYI members were proud to be offered this unique opportunity to present to these providers.
YFYI members will also have the opportunities to learn and practice peer mediation with a possibility of using these skills in their own school setting as well in the setting of Family Youth Interventions. Another opportunity for members is to assist FYI staff in presenting conflict resolution and anger management strategies to elementary school children. Members will interact with and be supervised by FYI staff at all times.
Please contact Heath Achatz at 586-463-7338 for meeting dates and times. |
