Oneida County Youth in Governance Program

Disclaimer:
The information provided on this page pertains to a previous session of the program, which has already started or ended. Registration is currently closed and not available at this time. The current content is provided for reference purposes only. Details for the next session of the program will be published here as soon as they become available. Please check back regularly for updates.

PROGRAM INFORMATION:

The Oneida County Youth in Governance Program offers greater opportunities for youth leadership development and youth empowerment in Oneida County through direct participation in county government decision-making; provides real-life learning opportunities for youth in the functioning of local government; and brings a direct youth voice to community issues and concerns while fostering the development of confident, capable and independent leaders for the next generation.

The Oneida County Youth in Governance Program has four major components that are beneficial to the youth representatives and the county as a whole. These components include:

• Youth Development: helping youth develop the skills they need to succeed in YGP and beyond.
• Community Improvement: offering a unique opportunity for youth to positively contribute to their communities.
• Civic Engagement: allowing youth to engage with and participate in local government in a meaningful, long-term capacity.
• Youth Voice: providing a mechanism for the needs and interests of youth to be heard and understood.

HOW TO APPLY:

Students should apply online by clicking the link below.

COST:

There is no cost for students to participate in this program.

WHAT WILL STUDENTS DO?

Youth representatives will have an opportunity to sit among county board members on a county committee and be paired with a county board supervisor who will serve as a mentor. County board supervisor-mentors will assist youth in becoming involved in county governance by providing information and resources for them to better understand the governance process, fully develop their ideas, and feel confident in sharing their opinions. They will encourage and promote learning and skill development in areas such as communication, organization, and decision-making. Mentors also advocate for the youth and help create a safe, welcoming, and respectful environment. In addition to committee meetings, youth representatives will attend cohort sessions, which provide a space to connect with other youth representatives; deepen learning; and grow youth leadership, civic engagement, and other important professional skills.

SCHEDULE:

Please note that this schedule may change from year to year. The most up-to-date schedule will be posted when applications open.

• August: Youth Representative Training at the Oneida County Courthouse.
• September-February: Students will attend their assigned committee meeting once a month during this time frame. Committee meetings typically take place at the Oneida County Courthouse in Rhinelander. Some may be located at a different location. Students will also attend one full county board meeting during this time span (students can choose which month they would like to attend the full county board meeting).
• November: Youth Representative Training in Rhinelander.
• February: Youth Representative Recognition by the full County Board, followed by a reception at the Oneida County Courthouse.

BENEFITS:

• FOR STUDENTS: Gain practical knowledge of local government, enhance public speaking, and critical thinking skills, and build a network of professional contacts.
• FOR COUNTY BOARD SUPERVISOR-MENTORS: Gain new energy, perspective, and ideas; Become more connected and responsive to the needs of young people in the community; Better enhance overall mission to better serve children and youth; Help cultivate the next generation of leaders: informed and capable individuals ready to take on future roles!
• FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS: Our civil society is strengthened when youth become informed and thoughtful citizens. Young people with skills, knowledge, commitment, and experience can reflect upon the common good, become full members of their communities, and take political action.

PARTICIPATION:

• Must be in grades 8-11 at the time of application;
• Must be an Oneida County resident;
• Must be able to attend one committee meeting per month. Committee meetings are typically 2 hours long and will occur once a month between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. This means students who attend public or private school will need to leave school to attend a committee meeting. (UW-Extension Oneida County staff will provide students with letters for the school for excused absences).
• Attend the Training in August and one training session in November.
• Attend at least one full county board between September-January. Full county board meetings take place every third Tuesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. and typically last around 2 hours. This means students who attend public or private school will need to leave school to attend a full county board committee meeting. (UW-Extension Oneida County staff will provide students with a letter for the school for excused absences).
• Youth representatives are expected to stay up to date on committee business, read necessary material in advance in order to stay engaged in committee meetings, not use cell phones or other devices during meetings (except for accessing meeting documents), wear business/dress casual attire to committee meetings, and adhere to the UW-Extension 4-H Youth Development Code of Conduct at all times.

TIMELINE OF SELECTION PROCESS:

• End of May: Youth Representative Applications Due.
• Beginning of June: Applications Reviewed.
• Mid-June: Student candidates will be notified.
• End of June: Students will select the committee he or she is most interested in serving on.
• By Mid-July: County Board Supervisor-Mentors will be notified.

LENGTH OF TERM:

Youth members will serve a one-year term (August – February). There are no term limits, but returning members must re-apply.

COUNTY BOARD SUPERVISOR – MENTORS:

Those interested in serving as a mentor will play a vital role in helping young people find their voice, understand local government, and grow as confident leaders. There are a few required steps that ALL mentors must complete before participating in the program. These requirements are in place to protect youth participants and adult mentors – and they also ensure full compliance with the UW Board of Regents volunteer policy.

1. All mentors must complete an in-person volunteer training session with the Oneida County 4-H Educator, Anne Williams.
2. All mentors are required to complete a mandatory background check conducted through HireRight. To complete this process, mentors must enter their Social Security number into a secure online form provided directly by HireRight and respond to identity‑verification questions.
   • Because this step is required, individuals who are not comfortable providing their Social Security number or completing the HireRight process should not apply to serve as mentors. Background checks from other organizations are not accepted.
   • Per policy, all volunteers in positions of trust who work with vulnerable parties must consent to and submit a background check application.
   • There are no exceptions. Individuals who do not agree to and complete the background check cannot participate as mentors in this program.

We truly appreciate your willingness to support the next generation of engaged community leaders! Our team is here to support mentors throughout this process, and we welcome any questions or concerns you may have along the way. If you need assistance at any point, please feel free to contact our office at 715‑365‑2750.

HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS:

Check with your social studies, history, or civics teacher to see if you can earn independent study credits through participation in this program!