Mission & Goals

1. Provide a forum for youth to have a voice and feel empowered to help make positive changes in the DCF system.
2. Work within the DCF system to implement policy and legislative changes that impact youth in care and former foster care youth.
3. Learn more about advocating for legislative changes.
4. Portray a positive image of foster youth within our communities.
5. Help youth in foster as they transition out of foster care.

Purpose, Group Norms, Reasons for Involvement

The youth involved in the 04-03-07 meeting identified the following purposes, group norms, and reasons for their involvement as a youth Committee member:

Youth Committee Purpose:

• Youth working together
• Help/encourage younger youth
• Better the lives of those in foster care
• Educate
• Youth involvement in training of workers and foster parents
• Improve youth advocacy
• Empower youth that are in out-of-home care
• Youth assistance and support
• Youth giving a voice to other youth
• Youth improving the system
• Implement policy change
• Put into action new policy
• Personal satisfaction to the youth
• Change on individual, local, and state levels
• Motivate others
• Challenge the government of Vermont
• Networking with other youth

Group Norms:

• Respect people, thoughts and opinions
• Try to talk one at a time
• Make sure your voice is heard
• Clarify and ask questions if needed
• Weigh options before making a decision
• Have fun (humor)
• Problem solve issues in a timely manner
• Avoid targeting
• Use “I” messages
• Phones off or on silent

W.I.I.F.M. (what’s in it for me):

• Incentive, money, stay in hotel
• Build relationships with others
• Have fun
• Obtain recognition
• Advocacy
• Ability to help others
• Have your voice heard
• Being a role model
• Change the system
• Personal satisfaction and accomplishment

From this brainstorming and discussion the following mission statements and Youth Development Committee bylaws were formed.

Mission

Vermont foster youth coming together to advocate, educate, and challenge the system to protect the rights of current and former foster youth through policy improvement and change.

“In order to get from what was to what will be- we must go through what is” Anonymous

Membership

The Vermont Youth Development Committee is currently composed of 16 youth members and additional adult supports. The goal is increase membership to allow for two representatives of each region in Vermont. Youth Development Committee Members shall be expected to attend all regular business meetings of the Vermont Youth Development Committee.

Definition of or criteria of committee members;

• Youth ages 14 and older who are in foster care with a case plan establishing the need for independent living services.
• Youth ages 14 and older who were formerly in foster care.
• Youth ages 14 and older who were formerly in foster care who have been adopted or placed in a guardianship from foster care.
• Current or former foster youth who have a commitment to the committee mission.
• Commitment will be determined through their ability to follow through with tasks and assignments and by speaking up and actively participating in meetings and activities.

The Vermont Youth Development Committee is supported by the state independent living coordinator, adult support staff and adult volunteers. Such support will include

• Assistance in the development of meeting agendas
• being the hub of communication for the committee members
• Supply food, logistics, funding for meetings and events.
• Ensure that there is transportation available to committee members
• Participate by giving general guidance (input, direction, advice)
• Be a voting member of the committee in case of tie vote.

Voting

Voting authority is extended to the committee members that compose the Vermont Youth Development Committee. A majority vote shall be required by the quorum of members present. Voting for officer positions shall be made by secret ballot. All other voting shall be done by show of hands to allow all voting Committee members the opportunity to see their fellow Committee member’s position on the topic of discussion.

A majority of 2/3 of the Youth Development Committee shall constitute a quorum. Until such time that the Youth Committee has reached full capacity members quorum will be 2/3 of the initial members. As additional members are added the 2/3 quorum will be refigured as needed. In the event that there is no quorum, any discussions that are held by those assembled shall be regarded as informal and nonbinding.

In the event of a tie vote, the committee will open the topic for discussion and then call for an additional vote. The tie breaker vote will include a one consensus vote from the adults in addition to the committee member votes.

Officers- Appointment, Terms and Duties

The officers of the Vermont Youth Development Committee consist of President, Vice-President, and Secretary. Potential candidates for office positions will self nominate or be nominated by others, seconded by another youth Development Committee member. Any person who is nominated by another member has the right to decline nomination prior to the voting process. Prior to the elections nominees will be allowed to give a nomination speech not to exceed ten (10) minutes. Questions to the each nominee by the voting members will be entertained for an additional (3) minutes. Appointments for the Youth Development Committee Officers shall be determined during the next committee meeting.

Each Youth Development Committee term will be for duration on one (1) year, with no limit to on consecutive terms.

Vacancies on the Youth Development Committee that occurs before the expiration of a term shall be filled by nomination and election process. The appointment will be made for the remainder of the term.

The following duties have been established for each position:

President

• Shall preside at all meetings of the Youth Development Committee
• Maintain order of the meetings
• Shall appoint standing or special committees as necessary to carry the Youth Development Committee business
• Shall supervise the efficient and responsible operation of the Youth Development Committee
• Shall be the Youth Development Committee liaison to other Committees and organizations
• Shall call for votes
• Shall represent the ideas of the Vermont Youth Development Committee as a whole
• Shall update and orientate new committee members

Vice-President

• Shall assist the President
• Shall preside at Youth Development Committee meetings in the absence of the President
• Shall assume specific leadership responsibilities as determined by the President
• Shall be the chair person for all special committee leads
• The VP does not have to be part of each committee but will meet with the leads of each committee for summary of what the sub-committee is doing

Secretary

• Shall take attendance
• Shall keep records of minutes of the Committee
• Shall provide notes and summaries of each meeting
• Shall maintain an archive of the Vermont Youth Development Committee
• Shall keep the Youth Development Committee meeting on task
• Shall write the committee agenda

If an issue with an elected officer rises to the point where members may want to impeach the officer the following steps will take place. The committee will present the issue at hand to the officer; the officer will have the right to defend him or herself. The officer will then be given two (2) months to modify the problematic behavior. At such time a majority vote of those members in attendance will vote as to weather or not he officer maintains his office. If the vote opens up the office the process to fill a vacant position will go into effect.

Voting on issues will in general require a two-thirds quorum of the voting members in order to make the decision binding. If it is determined that the issue at hand is emergent and cannot wait for the next meeting a majority vote of those members in attendance will take place, if the issue is deemed non-emergent it will be tabled till the next meeting when a quorum can be established.

It was suggested that a phone tree would be developed for use when youth presenters are needed quickly and there would not be time to wait for the next meeting to recruit presenters.

Meetings

Other youth or adults beside committee members may sit in and observe the Youth Development Committee meetings. However, only recognized committee members will be allowed to participate in discussion and voting.

Specific meeting times of the Vermont Youth Development Committee and locations shall be established during the next committee meeting.

Designation of Committees

Sub-Committees shall be formed, as the Youth Development Committee deems needed, in relation to the work of the Committee. Committee members shall be expected to participate in at least one sub-committee at any given time.

Amendments

These bylaws and operating procedures may be amended by a majority vote at any official Vermont Youth Development Committee meeting as long as a quorum of voters is present.

Topics to consider at future Committee meetings

• Establish and prioritize goals of the Committee
• Establish rules of conduct- What are they? What happens when they are not followed?
• Establish code of expected behavior for Committee members.
• Discuss appropriate dress code for Committee members.
• Train on strategic sharing.
• Develop emergency decision/recruitment phone tree.