connecting youth with society

1. Peergroupconsultation and
improvementsessions
Experimentation by the
Council of Youthpolicy in the
Netherlands 1995-1996

2. Targets
Peergroupconsulting
Creating the conditions for the improvementsessions
1. Generating necessary information
2. Putting participating young persons in position
Improvementsessions
1. Quality improvement of policymaking
2. Creating a good start for implementation together
with young persons involved

3. Uniqe power improvementsessions
• Unequal partners working together on an equal base
• Young persons and adults can assert themselves
• No drop out
• Results achieved together
• Good start for policy implementation

4. Rules of the game
• Fixed turnsequences for all participants
• Passing allowed
• Input only, brief, clear, concise
• No mutual discussion or criticism
• Everyone´s input noted down visible and
satisfactory to the one who has put it in

5. Methodical approach in phases strictly
separated
• Reconsideration of the problem definition on
basis outcome consultation
• Indicating causes
• Classifying causes
• Selecting main causes
• Indicating solutions for main causes
• Selecting most wanted main solution
• Elaborating this solution by indicating
disadvantages and their solutions

6. Procescoaches required
• Two persons well trained
• One sees to how the group functions
• The other explains, summarises, notes down

7. Do´s and don´ts for the policymakers
Policymakers must
• Stand behind it
• Submit an open problemdefinition
• Give not to much information
• Formulate brief, concise, clear
• Be willing to sacrifice some evenings and
weekends
• Secure themselves of professional support