Among the goals of the Colorado Prevention Leadership is instituting the inclusion of youth and family voice in interagency collaborative groups that address children and youth needs and actively foster youth and family leadership.

Family and youth involvement in policymaking, governance, and agency oversight will make a difference. Like other issues, it will take enthusiasm and leadership to see the work through. Toward improving the inclusion of family and youth voice on organization boards, and cross-system committees, task forces, and councils, several state agencies partnered with the Center for Systems Integration and family and youth leaders to produce the Colorado LINKS Family and Youth Involvement Workbook: A Workbook for Policy and Governance Boards and Planning Groups.

The goal of the workbook is to help boards involved in policymaking, governance of behavioral health and related systems to embrace family and consumer representatives on your board. The workbook is designed to be succinct and practical, with overviews, discussion guides and checklists, with sample bylaws, reimbursement forms, and other materials.

FAMILY LEADERSHIP

Family leadership is meaningful participation of families in local, state and national planning processes that shape policy and practices to create a positive impact in the lives of children and families.  Encouraging family involvement and promoting the development of family leaders is a priority for many programs and community organizations.  Family leadership development is dedicated to establishing strong partnerships between families and the service system, shifting the paradigm from a dependency model to an empowerment model.  

WHAT IS FAMILY LEADERSHIP

• An ability to provide leadership principles on behalf of families and children
• Consumer voice articulated to represent the interests of children and families
• A designation offering a meaningful role in policy planning – local, state and national levels
• The natural step following family engagement and involvement.
• Actions leading to policy change

WHY IS FAMILY LEADERSHIP NECESSARY

·         National directives mandate that families serve as essential advisors in public policy, research, and systems development.   

·         Family Leaders understand firsthand current barriers while identifying potential solutions.

·         Family Leaders offer authentic experiences, comprehensive knowledge, and multi-dimensional skills beyond parenting.

• Family Leaders offer a “reality check” regarding current and proposed policies
• Family Leaders are invested in the outcomes of their involvement.
• Family Leadership reflects the cultural representation of local communities.
• Policy makers seek informed consumers who are invested in the outcomes and can articulate current barriers – the ultimate “reality check” – while identifying solutions
• Partnerships between Family Leaders and policy makers lead to a more balanced perspective during policymaking activities.
• Family Leadership Development assures the intent of government (for the people, by the people) and reflects the cultural diversity of local communities.

FAMILY LEADERSHIP TRAINING

The Family Leadership Training Institute is a public-private partnership that works with local
communities to provide parents/youth/communities with the knowledge, skills and tools
for civic engagement. The goals of FLTI are to effect positive family leadership development
by:

·         Helping families become leaders in their communities through civic engagement

·         Expanding and facilitating the capacity of families to be change agents on a
neighborhood, regional and state level

·         Developing supportive communities of families within regions of the state

·         Facilitating family involvement in state and local policy decision-making processes

·         Increasing parent-child interaction through family involvement