Youth Advisory Councils Structure
Students have the opportunity to provide valuable input to their school and community through youth advisory councils.
Youth Advisory Councils (YACs) should have about 15 young people, but the exact size, focus, role, and structure vary. There is no one set structure for YACs, but some outline basic structures and roles for their members.
Youth advisory councils that represent high schools within a school district should be diverse and include:
- students from both rural and urban areas,
- students who have succeeded in school as well as those who have struggled,
- students representing various age ranges or grade levels, and
- students representing different genders, religious or spiritual affiliations, sexual orientation, race/ethnicities, and socioeconomic status.
YACs typically focus on specific issues for an organization or a community.
They also include a diverse group of students who can relate to these issues.
What Does a Youth Advisory Council Look Like?
Example Structure
President:
President:
Leads meetings and serves as a point of contact for the YAC’s work with the school and other community organizations.
Leads meetings and serves as a point of contact for the YAC’s work with the school and other community organizations.
Treasurer:
Treasurer:
Records the group’s budget and expenses.
Records the group’s budget and expenses.
Secretary:
Secretary:
Maintains important documents and shares key messages with the group.
Maintains important documents and shares key messages with the group.
Media Chair:
Media Chair:
Shares meeting and other content about the group on social media and other communication channels.
Shares meeting and other content about the group on social media and other communication channels.
Recruitment Chair:
Recruitment Chair:
Takes the lead on creating materials, activities, and events focused on recruiting new members.
Takes the lead on creating materials, activities, and events focused on recruiting new members.
Energizer:
Energizer:
Helps keep meetings fun and productive.
Helps keep meetings fun and productive.