Adult Volunteer Leader
Self-Improvement Series
Welcome to the University of Minnesota Extension Service, Mississippi Corridor Cluster, Adult Volunteer Leader Self-Improvement Series. This is the second in a series of five independent study lessons designed especially for adult volunteers that work with youth.
Take your time to go through the lesson, writing down any special question or problems you have. Plan to ask and discuss those questions with other volunteers, more experienced leaders or contact the Mississippi Corridor Cluster county extension office nearest you. We appreciate your comments. They help us determine future efforts for providing training.
Introduction
Youth groups strengthen families by providing settings for families to do things together. Families strengthen youth groups by providing resources that make the group stronger, larger and more active. Youth groups need to support families so that these positive things happen.
Objectives
- Recognize the importance of family involvement.
- Identify methods to get parents involved through informing, asking and recognizing families.
- Be motivated to make families feel welcome and a part of your youth group.
Parents Are Important
One of the important strengths of a youth group is when it can also be a family affair. Moms, dads, brothers and sisters, grandparents, and single adults should be a welcomed part of youth meetings and activities. Why is it a strength to have the entire family involved?
Parents benefit by making worthwhile contributions to the community. Member's feelings of self-worth and pride come from actively doing something to make a child's life better. They gain confidence and a feeling of security because their parents are interested. A young person models what adults do and will see value in caring about others. Plus, learning becomes more fun.
Attitudes of Parents and Families
Parents and families are important to youth groups and youth groups can strengthen families. The problem is how do you get parents involved so all these "good" things can happen in their family?
Think about these questions:
- Why do you think the father has been reluctant to attend meetings with the daughter?
- Who can help the father feel comfortable about attending?
- Can the youth group do anything for this father? The father for the youth group?
- How does the daughter feel about the situation?
- Are there many parents or family members in this situation in your group? Why? What can you do?
Our Own Attitude
You must look at your own attitudes toward involving families. To do this indicate if you agree or disagree with the following statements:
| Agree | Disagree | Statement |
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| _____ | _____ | I believe that families are not aware of what our youth group is all about. |
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| _____ | _____ | I believe families are not interested in participating. |
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| _____ | _____ | I want families to only help with the specific jobs they are assigned. |
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| _____ | _____ | I want families to assist only with conducting events. |
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| _____ | _____ | I want families to be interested in only project work. |
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| _____ | _____ | I expect families to be interested in all aspects of our group. |
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Seeking Interest and Support From Families
Like everyone, family members need to feel wanted and a part of the group. It is up to the leader to make sure they know they are welcome. Here are some ideas:
- Conduct a project fair at a group meeting. Each family brings examples of project work.
- Set up a “Family Buddy System” so that each new family has a "special friend family."
- Plan a welcome meeting for families at a regular meeting.
Informing Families
Another key ingredient to your success is communication. Keep this idea in mind, "I cannot do what I do not know about." As a youth group leader, it is very important to keep families not just the members informed. This will make the group stronger and the leader's job easier. Be sure parents know it is important for them to participate.
Recognizing Families
An important part of supporting families is to recognize them and to say thank you for their involvement. Everyone needs and likes recognition for what they have done. The families in your group are no different. To find out how you would recognize a family, read the following situations and respond to them.
Directions: Think through and record what might be done to show appreciation in the situations to encourage continued support.
| 1) | A mother who has not been actively involved in the youth program has hostessed today's meeting, provided refreshments and listened in on the meeting. | | 2) | A youth leader from your group and his mother are serving on a committee for the county fair. It has involved several meetings as well as preparing materials at home. |
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| 3) | A father has agreed to teach a three-part photography lesson to the group. He's a good photographer but uncomfortable working with youth. | | 4) | For the past two years, one member's grandfather has coordinated recreation activities several times for youth and family functions. |
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Family Action Plans
It's time to make a commitment as to how you will support the families in your youth group. Please take a few minutes to make some specific plans and write those plans as your Family Action Plan.
List some reasons why parents are important to your youth program:
Topic 2: Supporting the Family
to return to the beginning of this series.
to go to Topic 3: Projects - The Gateway to Boys and Girls.
Understanding Youth
Strengthen Your Group Through Planning
Understanding Recognition and Awards