Understanding Volunteer Adult/Teen Relations

A critical factor to successful youth programs is the response of young people to the adults who work with them (Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development, 1994). "Effective youth leadership programs involve youth in significant relationships with mentors, positive role models and other nurturing adults" (Cox & Woyach, 1992, p. 22).

In Ohio, adult 4-H volunteers play a significant role in developing teen leadership. The 4-H adult volunteer has direct, one-to-one contact with Ohio 4-H teens. This contact is primarily in a community 4-H club setting.

Because 4-H volunteers play a major role in helping teens develop leadership skills through 4-H, it was important to find out more about the status of Ohio 4-H adult volunteer and teen member relations. This study identified barriers and challenges that can interfere with effective relationships. The study also identified qualities and behaviors that teens feel make adults more effective when working with teens in leadership activities and qualities and behaviors that adults feel make teens more effective when working with adults in leadership activities.

The focus group method was used for conducting this study. The 4-H adult and teen volunteers in the study were representatives of each of the five Ohio Extension districts. The focus group questions related to county-level and club-level 4-H leadership activities and experiences in which teens learn and practice leadership skills.

Focus group sessions were conducted in each of the five Ohio Extension districts during the Spring of 1993. At each site, adults and teens were separated into groups of six to ten people. Each group had one 4-H staff member serving as moderator and a second staff member serving as recorder/assistant moderator. The moderator and recorder received orientation on the process and were provided with questions and recording sheets appropriate to their small group (either teens or adults).

Statements were identified as common responses only when the same responses were given in at least four of the five Ohio Extension districts. These common responses are discussed below.

Teen participants said that adults who were most effective in working with teens in leadership activities at the county and club level possessed the following qualities and behavior:

good communication skills,
a willingness to listen,
a sense of humor,
flexibility, and
the ability to keep an open mind.

Adults felt that the qualities and behaviors needed by teens to be effective in working with adults were as follows:

good communication skills,
self-confidence,
self-motivation,
maturity,
personable,
shows respect, and
energetic.

Teens felt that their problems and challenges in working with adult volunteers to develop leadership skills were as follows:

adult leaders not allowing teens to do enough (i.e.,
practice leadership skills),
adults not listening to teens, and
adults not understanding teens.

Adults said that their problems and challenges in working with teens to develop leadership were:

adults are too busy,
lack of responsibility and commitment of teens,
teens are too busy, and
lack of parental support and/or involvement.

As a partial result of this study, district 4-H adult volunteer education meetings on the topic of "Developing Positive Volunteer Leader/Teen Leader Relationships" were conducted in each of the five districts throughout the State of Ohio. New curriculum materials on the subject of adult/teen relations have also been developed for use in the education of adults and teens.

One observation of interest to note was that adults seemed to be looking for (and expecting) adult-like behavior in volunteer teen leaders. During our adult education, we have emphasized that adults are working with a developing product rather than a finished product. Each teen is at a different maturity and skill level.

Report of the Task Force on Youth Development and Community Programs. (1992). A matter of time: Risk and opportunity in the non-school hours. New York: Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development.

Cox, K. J., & Woyach, R. B. (1992). Youth leadership principles. Unpublished manuscript. The Ohio State University, Mershon Center.