Engaging Rural Youth

The health and well-being of Native youth represent the future health of their 

communities. The Native Connections grant program helps American Indian and 

Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities identify and address the behavioral health needs 

of Native youth. The program supports grantees in reducing suicidal behavior and 

substance use among Native youth up to age 24, and supporting youth as they 

transition into adulthood.

Lack of parental supervision, academic problems, drug availability, poverty, and peer 

rejection are all risk factors associated with an increased likelihood of substance use and 

suicide by youth.i Protective factors associated with positive outcomes for AI/AN 

youth include categories such as: cultural connectedness, positive social norms, familial 

and non-familial connectedness, and positive self-image.ii 

Some challenges to engaging rural youth and maintaining their involvement include 

scheduling conflicts, experience barriers, transportation, young people having a limited 

voice, events or meetings not being appealing to young people, and lack of 

understanding of how young people can contribute. 

Youth groups (which could be a youth council, youth advisory board, or other type of 

committee or association) are comprised of a collection of young people who come 

together to offer input and provide insight on the needs of the youth in the community. 

Youth involvement and inclusion in decision-making helps to keep them engaged in 

their community, and keeping them engaged in positive activities gives youth a safe 

outlet and a way to connect with peers and other positive role models in their 

community.

The ideas provided in this document can be put forward in a youth group setting or 

converted into a program based on the needs of the community. While these ideas are 

geared towards a rural community, they can be used in any setting.
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Youth Groups, Advisory Boards, and Councils

What is a youth group? 

A youth group (youth advisory board, youth council, etc.) provides a way to enable 

youth to have a role in helping to solve problems in their community. Each youth 

group has its own identity based around the 

community that it serves, while providing youth 

an opportunity to learn responsibility and 

leadership, as well as to contribute to their 

community. These groups can be temporary or 

permanent based on the needs of the 

community. Youth group members typically 

include middle or high school-aged youth and 

extend to the young adult years (ages 18 to 24).

What does a youth group do? 

Youth groups determine activities based on the needs of their community. Once 

community needs are determined, a strategy can be made to plan activities that will 

meet those needs. Examples include: 

• Volunteer to help elders

• Volunteer at a local animal 

shelter, food bank, etc.

• Food or clothing drives

• Raise money for a community 

member in need

• Sponsor alcohol or drug free 

events

Youth can also plan and implement service-learning projects or team-building activities, 

such as outdoor experiential learning activities (e.g., hikes, bike rides, canoeing, 

harvesting salmon, snowshoe workshop, gardening, etc.). 

Why create a youth group?

A youth group can provide young people with a way to harness their combined talents 

and energy as well as a way to become involved in decision-making that affects the 

lives of those in their community as well as themselves. Involvement in a youth group
3 

can build skills and increase values such as: cultural awareness, respect, responsibility, 

teamwork, conflict resolution, time management, and communication. 

Other benefits include:

• Strengthen communities

• Increase engagement in community 

wellness activities

• Recognize and develop talent

• Build leadership skills

• Increase decision-making and problemsolving skills

• Grow positive self-identity and 

confidence

• Promote involvement in decision-making

(tribal or local government)

• Support positive peer relationships 

Steps for creating a formal youth group 

1. Youth decide to organize.

2. A committee is formed. Members include youth and adults.

3. A youth coordinator or advisor is designated. This may be a paid or volunteer

position and could be a tribal employee, teacher, parent, or community member.

4. The committee develops by-laws for the youth group. Keep in mind that the group is 

tailored to meet the needs of the youth and the values and traditions of the respective 

tribe or supporting organization. 

5. A resolution is drafted and presented with 

the by-laws to the tribal government or 

supporting organization for consideration. 

The resolution is designed to ensure that the 

youth group is part of the supporting

organization's permanent structure.iii

6. Elections are conducted for youth officers.

7. Youth conduct meetings and develop their 

course of direction. 

”When youth get involved in 

prevention, they feel good about 

helping their communities and 

youth make the biggest difference 

for change.” 

Stevi Johnson, age 13, Absentee 

Shawnee Tribe and Sac and Fox

2017–2018 Jr. Miss Sac and Fox Nation 

Princess of Oklahoma and member of 

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of 

America
4 

Youth group member roles and responsibilities 

The roles and responsibilities of a youth group is decided by the committee upon its 

creation. Some roles might include:

• Attend regular meetings

• Help organize and participate in 

a minimum number of events per

year 

• Engage other youth to participate 

in positive activities

• Model healthy habits and serve 

as a role model to other youth

(i.e., be on time for meetings, 

show respect toward others and 

their ideas)

• Maintain good grades and 

positive attitude

Programming

Organized activities for youth provide a way to bring young people together and offer a 

safe outlet in a controlled environment. Those in rural communities may have difficulty

getting youth interested and providing activities while keeping financial limits in mind. 

Youth activities do not have to cost money, and those involved can volunteer their time. 

Some ideas for free or low-cost activities that will work for all youth are: 

• Movie nights

• Game nights

• Medicine identification and 

harvesting

• Drum social with potluck

• Planned sports (open gym, 3-on-3 

basketball tournament, annual 

color run, etc.)

• Storytelling

• Lock-ins

• Nature walks

• Digital storytelling

• Book club (with donated books or 

books checked out from a local 

library)

• Volunteering (planting flowers, 

cleaning up a local park, assisting 

elders, etc.) 

Strategies for keeping youth engaged 

A strong core group is important for regular interaction and to encourage participation. 

As youth in that core group age out and new youth cycle in , it can be difficult to ensure 

groups remains strong. Encouraging and keeping youth involvement increases the 

likelihood of young people remaining in the area after graduation, which can benefit 

rural communities.iv 
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Encourage youth to develop a strong bond by:

• Arranging activity schedules around 

youth involved

• Providing consistency (regularly 

scheduled activities) 

• Providing snacks or meals when possible 

during activities

• Hosting events and activities to 

encourage youth involvement (see 

examples above) 

• Utilizing social media for scheduling and 

updates 

• Creating public service announcements 

Conclusion

When thinking about youth programming, grantees should look at existing 

programming in their communities and consider integrating mental health promotion, 

suicide prevention, and substance use prevention activities into those programs. 

Grantees must involve AI/AN community members—including, but not limited to, 

young people up to and including age 24—in all grant activities, including planning 

and carrying out the plan.

Youth engagement recognizes that young people are already leaders in many ways, and 

acknowledges their right to participate in decisions that impact them. Valuing the skills 

and strengths youth bring to the table helps to keep them engaged and strengthens 

protective factors for AI/AN young people. 

“We try to always offer a meal, 

which can be difficult depending on 

the funding source. Some of our 

other programs have been able to 

help cover the cost of these. Because 

all of our communities struggle 

with food insecurity, it's important 

for us to offer food.” 

Wabaaki Health & Wellness/ Wabanaki 

Public Health
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Resources

Center for Native American Youth

http://www.cnay.org/ 

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of 

America

https://www.cadca.org/

Healthy Native Youth

https://www.healthynativeyouth.org/

National Congress of American Indians

http://www.ncai.org/ 

National Indian health board 

https://www.nihb.org/

Native Connections Webinars

https://www.samhsa.gov/nativeconnections/webinars

Native Wellness Institute

https://www.nativewellness.com/

Project Venture

https://projectventure.org/ 

United National Indian Tribal Youth 

https://unityinc.org/

WeRNative 

https://www.wernative.org/

i https://youth.gov/youth-topics/substance-abuse/risk-and-protective-factors-substance-use-abuse-anddependence 

ii Journal of Primary Prevention. 2017 Apr;38(1-2):5-26. doi: 10.1007/s10935-016-0455-2. Identifying 

Protective Factors to Promote Health in American Indian and Alaska Native Adolescents: A Literature 

Review, Henson M1, Sabo S2, Trujillo A3, Teufel Shone N4. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27826690 

iii A sample Constitution, Bylaws, and Resolution can be found at https://unityinc.org/wpcontent/uploads/2017/03/UNITY-YC-Handbook.pdf

iv https://publicpolicy.wharton.upenn.edu/live/news/2393-rural-america-is-losing-young-peopleNote: Inclusion of a resource in this publication does not imply endorsement by the Center for Mental 

Health Services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or the U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services.