Speaker: Elizabeth Wynter
I'll begin with one of my favorite quotes. "Those that are closest to the problem are also those that are closest to the solution, but furthest away from the power." It's our job to help youth and young adults get closer to the power so that they can help us identify the solutions. And so we do that through co-design, which is a collaborative approach in which we bring a diverse group of stakeholders to the table, each with different perspectives on the problem. And we work together to design solutions policies and programs. And we really want young people who have an incredible perspective on what goes on in the child welfare system to join us in this effort. And so in order to do that, we need to approach this with some rights and responsibilities. And so there are six important rights and responsibilities when you're choosing to bring young people into the space to co-design policies or programs with them. So the first principle is "we're in this together". And so there's no special privileges for anyone's title or experience or background. We're all the same in this room. "You are welcome here." That means we respect your identity. We will use your preferred pronouns and whatever name you prefer. "You can choose what you're comfortable in sharing in this space." We won't ask you to disclose anything personal. If you do, we will listen with compassion and keep your story in confidence Four, "you help make this place safe." We need your help to make this safe for everyone. This requires us to be kind, courteous, and curious in this space. Number five is "you can ask and we will ask to." And so we want to know about anything that helps you feel included and stay included through the process. And we will regularly ask you for your feedback and we want your honest opinions. Number six is "you don't have to ask for permission" to do things such as go to the bathroom or take a break. All are welcome and appreciated in this space. And so these principles will help us create an environment where young people feel respected, valued and empowered to contribute meaningfully. Together we can change the child welfare system for the better for and to meet all stakeholders needs.
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