Supporting Youth
Why Askable Adults?
In a 2017 survey, Vermont’s children and youth identified an array of concerns that cause them stress in their everyday lives—including drug and alcohol use; poverty; sexism and harassment; body shaming and bullying; and homophobia and transphobia.
When asked what would help, young people said that the number one solution would be more adults they can confide in.
Together, we can ensure that Vermont’s youngest people have the support they need to lead healthy, confident lives!
A Helping Hand
Children and youth are more resilient to stress and adversity when in meaningful relationships with at least one trusting affirming adult. This is especially critical for young people working to develop a positive sense of self in a culture that often devalues them based on their identity, ability, background or status.
Find Out More
What is an Askable Adult?
An askable adult is one who is approachable and easy for children and youth to talk to about anything that is on their minds. Askable adults are committed to having strong, effective, and affirming relationships with youth using positive communication to develop trust and connectedness.
Qualities of adults who are “askable” include patience, consistency, respectfulness, honesty, kindness, attentiveness, trustworthiness, lightheartedness, open-mindedness, non-judgment, and knowledgeability. Askable adults often have a similar racial/ethnic or sexual identity as the young person or common background experience.
Youth want to talk to adults about their everyday lives and school and family struggles. They are eager to connect about drugs and alcohol; sexuality and gender; relationships, love and sex; abuse and divorce; college, jobs, money, cars, and life skills.
Adults can strengthen these top skills to become more askable for children and youth:
Take Action
Together, we can ensure that Vermont’s youngest people have the support they need to lead healthy, confident lives! Make a personal commitment today.
Hear From Young Voices
Stories
Special thanks to Llu Mulvaney-Stanak, Natanya Vanderlaan, Megan Stearns and all of the youth and adults willing to share their stories to make this project possible. This project was funded by the Vermont Department of Health through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Rape Prevention and Education Program.
The stories featured here were created by youth and adults working in partnership, for the Vermont Network’s Askable Adult Campaign through Reel Talk: An audio project supporting youth and adults to drop the small talk and do real talk. Youth invited adults to share about an adult who let them know they mattered when they were young, and the youth also shared stories of their own. These stories remind us what a difference adult support can make for youth, and point us toward the small-but-powerful pivots adults can make to do better at connecting. Learn more about Reel Talk here.
Grow With Us
Skill-Building Toolkit & Lesson Plan
In the Askable Adult Skill Building Toolkit, find tips in four skill areas that help adults become more askable for children and youth.
The Askable Adult Lesson Plan & Conversation Starter Guide is an accessible curriculum designed for any adult or youth/adult team to bring to other adults in their workplace or community. It outlines flexible lessons and informal conversation starters that increase understanding and skills for adults to become more connected and “askable” for children and youth in their lives. Below, you’ll find a guide for facilitators and a guide for participants. For more information or resources, please contact Amy Torchia.
