What are Youth Adult Partnerships (YAP)?
Youth-adult partnerships are intentional relationships between young people and adults where both groups share power, responsibility, and learning to make meaningful decisions and create change. They go beyond traditional adult-led involvement models by including youth as leaders, co-creators, and decision-makers, not just participants or recipients of adult knowledge.
| Element | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Shared Power |
Adults allow youth to shape decisions, not just give input. Youth are partners in planning, problem-solving, and implementation. |
A high school’s wellness committee includes both students and staff who vote together on how to use grant funding for school initiatives. |
|
Respect |
Youth input is valued. Adults make time to understand youth perspectives and expertise. |
A teacher planning a unit on community engagement invites student leaders to co-design discussion questions and selects student-recommended resources. |
|
Mutual Learning |
Adults and youth learn from one another, asking questions, exchanging experiences, and growing together. |
In a district-wide training, youth co-facilitate a session on culturally responsive classrooms, sharing lived experience while educators share teaching strategies. |
|
Intentional Structures |
Systems, time, and supports are built into the school or program to make partnership possible and sustainable. |
A middle school builds in a monthly “Youth Voice Forum” during advisory, where students and staff discuss ideas and concerns. The principal follows up with action steps after each forum. |
Zeldin, Shepherd, et al. “The Psychology and Practice of Youth-Adult Partnership: Bridging Generations for Youth Development and Community Change.” American Journal of Community Psychology, vol. 51, no. 3-4, 6 Oct. 2012, pp. 385–397, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-012-9558-y.