Challenges of a Nomination Process

• Determining if all nominated should be automatically elected to the peer leadership group.

• The nomination process can become more of a "popularity" contest in which the interests of only one specific segment of the peer group are represented.

• Nominees may not understand the importance and responsibilities of representing the peer group.

Based on the above observations of the nomination process, IYG youth and staff feel that an application and interview selection process may eliminate some of the challenges of the nomination process. Specifically, IYG youth had concerns that in the past only the "popular" youth were elected to the peer leadership corps.

Currently, IYG uses an application and interview process for establishing those who will represent their peers on the IYG Youth Council. The following are youth and staff reflections of the strengths and challenges of this process:

• Individuals who apply understand the importance and responsibilities of representing and leading their peer group.

• Elimination of most of the possibility that election to the peer leadership group is a reflection of popularity versus the peer's desire to lead and make a difference for those peers he/she represents.

• The application questions outline the expectations of the peer group for the potential leader so he/she understands the obligation being made to the peer group.

• Completing the application may help determine those who truly want to serve in a leadership capacity versus those seeking simply a leadership title.

Challenges of an Application and Interview Process

• Determining who will conduct the interviews – peers, staff, or some mixture of the two.

• Making sure the questions on the application are understandable and gather the most information to aid in the peer leader selection process.

• Finding times for all the peer leader candidates to interview due to school, work, and transportation issues.

• Some peer leader candidates might not be good interviewees, but could be excellent leaders.

Whichever peer leader selection process an organization chooses, it is important that peer involvement occur to ensure that a peer leadership program represents those whom the peer leaders serve.

• Council members serve a six-month term of office.

• The IYG Youth Council is comprised of five members and two non-voting alternates.
• Selection to the IYG Youth Council is through an interview process with former council members and staff.

• The Youth Council, with staff support, makes important decisions affecting programming, services, and the future of IYG. As such, peer leaders must be dedicated, committed, and enthusiastic members.

• Membership to the Youth Council requires the members to be strong representatives of IYG in both their personal and program-related activities. For this reason, council members must attend at least one meeting per week so they can represent the voices and concerns of their peer group.

• To be an IYG council member, a candidate must be a member for at least thirty days.

• What leadership skills do you possess and how will these skills benefit your peers at IYG?

• Why would you be a good IYG council member?

• Please list and explain three of your personal strengths.

• Please list and explain two of your weaknesses.

• What ideas would you bring to the IYG Youth Council?

• Please describe one of your strengths.

• How can you benefit IYG as a council member?

• What do you see as major needs of the IYG youth? Please explain.

• Are you prepared to act as a leader to other IYG youth? Could you explain?

• One of your closest friends, an IYG youth member, violates one of the major IYG rules. How would you handle the situation?

• What are some of your ideas to make IYG a better place?

Since 1991, IYG has operated a peer-run toll-free hotline to answer calls from g/l/b youth across the nation. Calls range from basic questions such as, "What is a good book to help me in coming out?" to the more serious, "I just found out I am HIV-positive and am going to commit suicide." Peer advocates trained in crisis management and referral techniques handle these calls.

The IYG hotline has evolved over the last seven years and many lessons have been learned. The following questions should help guide other youth and staff as they plan their own hotline:

• What type of hotline do you want?

• Do you want to offer basic information and referrals for services or programs available in a particular geographic area?

• Do you want to answer calls relating to crisis situations such as suicide, HIV, substance abuse, physical abuse, or runaway youth?

• Should you take local, statewide, regional, or national calls?

• Who should run the hotline? (IYG youth answer all incoming calls, coordinate the work schedule, and participate in the intensive 25-hour hotline training. Peer advocates with experience also facilitate training updates and act as supervisors. IYG has found it critical to have peers answering all incoming calls. Callers appreciate having a peer to talk to and often peer advocates can get to the heart of a matter much more quickly than an adult).

• What kinds of training do peer advocates need? (In the past, IYG held an extensive two-weekend training, which many peer advocates found exhausting. Currently, IYG breaks training up into three-hour sessions over a three to four week period. This allows the training to be more intensive in smaller doses and allows participants to process what they have learned).

• Who should conduct the training? (IYG uses a combination of experienced peer advocates and community service providers. Representatives from Indiana Cares (a local community-based organization), Damien Center (a local AIDS services organization), American Red Cross, Indiana Department of Education Division of HIV, and Marion County Mental Health Association all present interactive educational components to the hotline training. The diversity in presenting organizations helps give a well-rounded approach to the training and peer advocates indicate they appreciate the input and real life scenarios these individuals bring to the training).

An understanding of the history of the IYG hotline may be helpful to an agency or group of peers thinking about the feasibility of undertaking a hotline. This abbreviated historical timeline is presented to aid in understanding the process IYG has undertaken with its own hotline over the last seven years.

• March 1991 – IYG receives a grant from the U.S. Conference of Mayors to start a toll-free peer counseling hotline. Gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth were identified to be among the groups most threatened by the AIDS epidemic. For this reason, the hotline was developed to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among this at-risk population.

• June 1991 – IYG begins operation of the nation's first toll-free peer counseling hotline. The phone line is additionally funded with a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From the beginning of hotline operation to December 1991 there are 1,872 hours of peer counseling provided, approximately 45,000 calls received, 3,056 youth educated about HIV prevention, and 38 youth counselors trained.

• January 1992 – IYG hotline receives $32,000 in federal funding disbursed by the Indiana State Department of Health.

• January 1993 – IYG hotline funding is cut by 70 percent and the hotline receives only $10,000 from federal funds for Indiana AIDS prevention and education programs. The cut in funding is picked up by the van Ameringan Foundation, which supplies $15,000 to cover hotline operation through the end of the year. Approximately 1,000 calls per month are received by the hotline at this time.

• August 1993 – IYG is notified it will participate in a three-year federally funded grant titled "Indiana Youth Access Project" (IYAP). IYAP will serve as a model for service demonstration projects and is considered to be a grantee of the Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) Program, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Funding for the IYG hotline is partially provided through this grant.

• August 1996 – IYG begins the process of writing a competitive two-year grant renewal for HRSA/HAB's Special Projects of National Significance. Approximately 800 calls per month are being received by the hotline at this time.

• September 1996 – IYG hotline operation becomes temporarily suspended due to a lack in funding.

• October 1996 – IYG is awarded a two-year extension of SPNS Program funding along with the continuation IYAP. The future of IYG hotline operation is questionable at this time due to hotline costs and a lack of program resources (staffing, peer employees, funding, etc.).

• September 1997 – IYG Hotline Operator Training begins with eight peer advocates.

• October 1997 – IYG hotline reopens for operation. IYG hotline training and operation has a new appearance: hours of operation are reduced to two evenings, 7 PM – 10 PM Friday and Saturday evenings; peer operators receive 25 hours of professional training; and, hotline operation is run on a volunteer basis versus a compensatory one. Approximately 200 calls per month are received by the hotline at this time.

IYG hotline training has been reorganized by former peer hotline advocates and staff. In the past, training tended to be condensed into a lecture format that did not engage participants. The new training outline is interactive and led by many different individuals and organizations, giving a more "hands-on" feel. Participants enjoy the training and look forward to attending, thereby increasing retention.

(1) HIV/AIDS Prevention

(a) American Red Cross – Facts about HIV Transmission, Review Drills, Role Play

(b) Indiana Cares – Confidentiality Issues, HIV/AIDS Terminology, Role Play

(c) Indiana Department of Education – Attitudes, Values and Beliefs, HIV/AIDS Resource Guide 
     (CDC hotline, statewide HIV hotline numbers, etc.)

(2) Communication Skills and Techniques

(a) Mental Health Association of Marion County – Active and Empathetic Listening, Open-Ended 
     Questions

b) Teen Link Hotline – Non-Judgmental Approaches, Cultural Diversity, How to Use Resources

(3) Suicide

(a) Mental Health Association of Marion County – Suicide Risk Assessment and Referral,
     Differentiating Between Crisis and Non-Crisis Situations, Role Play

(4) Self-Esteem and Responsibility

(a) IYG Outreach Coordinator and Social Case Manager – Decision Making and Risk Taking,
     Paying the Consequences of Behaviors, Teen Link Field Trip

(5) Spirituality and Homosexuality

(a) Presbyterian Minister Rev. Howard Warren – What the Bible Says About Homosexuality,
     Resource Guide to Religion and Homosexuality

(b) Northeast United Church of Christ – The Difference between Spirituality and Organized
     Religion, Open and Affirming Congregations, Values, Attitudes and Beliefs

(6) Hotline Policies and Procedures

(a) IYG Outreach Coordinator – Confidentiality and Responsibility Contracts, Scheduling, Record
     Keeping, Relieving "Burn-Out" and Stress

Peer leadership development is included in many aspects of the IYG toll-free hotline. Peer advocates not only train one another, but also act as information channels to peers all across the country. By working the hotline, IYG youth contribute to and participate in the local and national g/l/b youth communities.

Over the hotline's seven years of operation, many lessons have been learned. Peer advocates and staff persons offer these lessons as learning tools for other groups interested in establishing a hotline as a peer development activity.

1. Majority of calls revolved around issues of internalized homophobia

2. Caller demographics

1. 57 percent male, 43 percent female

2. 84 percent Caucasian, 12 percent African American, 3 percent Native American, 1 percent other

3. 27 percent self-identify bisexual, 22 percent self-identify gay, 13 percent self-identify lesbian, 38 percent unsure/don't know

4. 46 percent ages 15-17, 35 percent ages 18-20, 18 percent ages 13-14, 1 percent age 12

2. Peer Advocate Issues

1. Hotline operation – volunteer vs. compensatory basis

2. Reliability – shift punctuality, confidentiality, responsible discussion, balancing work and play

3. Transportation

4. Operator "burn-out"

3. Operational Costs

1. Toll-free vs. local access number

2. Equipment costs – number of operational lines, telephone answering systems, computer hardware and software, etc.

3. Training of peer operators

4. Peer operator incentives

5. Grant accessibility

4. Training Issues

1. Required hours of operator certification

2. Interactive vs. lecture format

3. Length of training sessions – 3 to 4 hours vs. 10 hours

4. Frequency of operator trainings

5. Ongoing informational updates for certified operators

5. Staff Issues

1. Staff need comprehension of training materials to support peer advocates

2. Staff availability for crisis call support

Community service projects are an important part of any peer leadership development program. Projects in the community offer excellent opportunities for young people to develop leadership and life skills while portraying a positive image of youth. Most importantly, these projects can be fun for peers as well as adult staff. Community service allows IYG youth to learn about various social issues and concerns, while allowing them to feel the empowerment of doing something about such issues. Peer-led projects are a means of establishing self-esteem and creating strong bonds within the peer group. IYG staff is excited to work along side youth members as the organization establishes itself in the community as a services project making a difference in the lives of individuals throughout the state.

IYG Youth Council members and their peers felt it was important for IYG to be a visible and contributing member of the community. Youth meet to discuss options for upcoming projects. Several project ideas that have been developed and presented to staff include:

• Adopt-A-Median Program

• Youth As Resources Grant

• Work with Parkview Manor

• Volunteer at the Damien Center (a local AIDS hospice)

• Canned food drive

• Volunteer at the Humane Society

• Work with the elderly

• Cleanup a playground

• Read to children at a shelter

• Work with the Special Olympics

• Plant a garden for fresh food

• Serve on local youth boards

• Distribution to the needy

• Provide a Speakers Bureau

• Help winterize houses for the elderly and poor

• Work in a local soup kitchen

• Volunteer with Meals on Wheels

Based on all of these ideas, IYG created a Community Service Night once a month. Peers decide which project they wish to take on for the month and staff enter it into the youth activity calendar. As a result of a successfully completed peer-written grant application, IYG members will create a green space for elderly residents of Emerson Care Center.

IYG encourages peer leadership development through participation on the IYG Board of Directors. Two members are selected by their peers to represent youth concerns and issues to the board as full voting members. The youth board members are responsible for reporting organizational information to their peers.

Youth board members serve one-year terms and are responsible for attending bimonthly board meetings. Their input is vital to the decision-making of the board and executive staff. By incorporating the input of youth board members, IYG is able to ensure that the voices of the peer group are heard and understood.

Important issues do arise by including youth on an agency's board. They are as follows:

• Legal liability of a board member if that member is under age 18.

• Confidentiality of issues discussed at board meetings, such as agency personnel and financial issues.

• Will the adult board members allow the youth members to fully participate?

• Will the youth board members feel they can speak out against the adult members if needed?

• Are the youth representing their peer groups’ interests?

• How long should the youth board members’ term be?

• How many youth members should a board have?

• How should the youth board members be selected?

In the past, IYG has had some great experiences with youth board members representing their peers. However, the above issues and questions should be answered by both youth and staff to ensure the effectiveness of young people serving on an agency's board. To best represent their peers’ opinions, youth board members must feel empowered and capable of interacting with adult board members.

Adult board members must be ready to listen and act on the feedback and opinions of the youth board members. After all, they do represent the agency's constituency group and these young people are entitled to such representation. Both youth and adult board members must understand the important balance of youth and agency issues.

The following is one of many stories describing how a youth became a peer leader.

By Jacob, 19, IYG Member #995

As young gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (GLBTQ) youth, many of us have nowhere to turn. A feeling of hopelessness fills us, and we become depressed and overwhelmed with the conflicts of our social norm. I was no exception to this rule, that is, until I became a member of the Indiana Youth Group (IYG).

I knew I was gay at around eleven or twelve years old; however, I didn't actually express my feelings to anyone until I was fifteen. For three years I was bottled up inside, feeling very alone and isolated except to my boyfriend. The depression I felt was real. It was like no other feeling I had ever felt before, and I hated it. Being the only one was strange and difficult. I knew there had to be others, but how did I find them? It seemed like an endless journey to me. However, I was determined to find those who shared my feelings – other gay youth. So, I set out to find just that – a gay youth group.

After an entire year of searching, someone mentioned IYG to me. This group was supposed to be full of GLBTQ youth just like myself. IYG was to offer shelter, counseling, and many other services that I felt I really didn't need, but wanted to try. After my first meeting, I changed my mind. The caring, dedicated staff made me feel that I could ask for help. I needed help. Not only emotionally, but also socially, I was a mess. IYG helped me come out of that mess and helped make me an activist as well as a strong GLBTQ advocate.

IYG has helped me become almost all that I am today. They've helped me come out of the toughest shell that GLBTQ youth face, the closet. After coming out to everyone on this earth, I started getting involved not only in my community, but also my culture. I started speaking about coming out, the woes and triumphs of gay youth, and the hardships I had to face and deal with growing up as a child. IYG gave me strength and support, which I needed desperately. Encouraged and empowered, I set out for better goals to help my community and family. I started speaking at events, I became a panelist for GLBTQ panels, and I joined many gay and gay-friendly groups, such as Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). I started helping with HIV/AIDS organizations, and I became quite a good speaker.

After getting involved, I decided to take a huge step for Indiana's GLBTQ youth. I decided to take a male date to my high school prom. Because my high school only consisted of about four hundred students, this was a big step. It turned out to be a national news story, and was very frustrating, but, at the same time, it was also invigorating. Because of IYG's help and support, as well as the staff and members' encouragement and empowerment, I was able to go to my prom and give the media all the story they wanted.

After prom, I became even more involved. I started speaking about the event, and encouraging other youth, like IYG had encouraged me, to do the same – to take steps in order to be recognized as a "normal" young person fighting for my rights like everyone else. I was offered magazine articles, radio interviews, and a position to speak at the 16th Annual PFLAG National Conference, all of which I accepted. Without IYG, I feel that none of these achievements would have been possible. It is for this reason that I thank IYG each and every day for helping me be the best gay youth I can be. It is for this reason that I am proud to be a member of IYG.

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