Does the youth speak up for themselves and the things that are important to them?
Self-advocacy is one of the most critical skills we can help youth attain in living their best life. A strong self-advocate knows their rights and responsibilities and speaks up for those rights. Self-advocates take responsibility for the choices they make and ask for help when needed.
Watch this 4-minute video to learn about different environments and experiences where young people advocated for themselves at work, in school and with family.
Housing Benefits 101 provides I get to decide: How do I get started? The activity, found within My Vault's housing path, includes a short animated video on rights and a few follow-up questions about informed choice.
The integrated supports star (PDF) from Charting the LifeCourse helps youth plan for needed support.
To begin, choose a focus for the planning exercise (such as getting a job, exploring work experiences or housing options, or identifying social opportunities at school or in the community). Write this focus in the middle of the star. Then, help the youth fill in examples of existing supports that can be leveraged as planning moves forward.
The Self-determined learning model of instruction (SDLMI) is a framework that teaches students to set goals, make a plan to achieve those goals, and monitor progress toward goals.
The following curriculums were developed to help teach students the skills needed to be successful in adult life.
Advocating for myself from PACER Center provides information and resources on self-advocacy.
