With its roots in liberation and anti-oppression practices, and focus on relationships and skill-building, YPAR is a worthy strategy for any youth-serving system, organization, or movement. Below are some things to think about before starting a YPAR project.
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Define the purpose: Clearly name why the program will use YPAR. Will the findings be used to decide on a policy, program shift, or funding? Is there an issue or topic that the YPAR process will focus on? Is the aim to build greater youth-adult partnerships with less focus on topic area or research projects?
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Clarify the fit: There is no “one way” or “best fit” for using YPAR, but being clear and up front about how youth will fit into the overall system and their role on the project is important to avoid tokenizing young people.
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Ensure adequate staffing and support: Identify adults who are ready to engage with youth as partners, are flexible in their approach and are given time to show up. Facilitating a YPAR process requires time and energy on “behind the scenes” work to ensure that time spent together with the youth team is meaningful.
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Compensation: Consider how young people will be compensated for their energy, time and expertise. Let youth partners know that their wisdom and skills are valued.
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Timeline: The YPAR model is flexible and can be adapted to many settings and timeframes, but the focus on building relationships and reflection does “slow down” the process. YPAR projects supported by OHA funding have lasted anywhere from a few months to an entire school year. A few have even spanned more than one school year.
Ready to start building support for YPAR in your community or organization? These
Talking Points can be used to communicate the main pieces, benefits, and key considerations for any YPAR project.
More YPAR resources can be found at the
YPAR Hub co-created by UC-Berkeley and SF Peer Resources.