Youth-adult partnerships involve multiple youth working together with multiple adults to address issues that are important to the overall health of people, groups and communities. A goal of these partnerships is to stimulate youth to develop social responsibility – a crucial factor in the promotion of health and well-being. Research in youth-adult partnerships shows that not only do youth benefit from these kinds of partnerships but adults, organizations and communities benefit as well. This type of youth-adult collaboration can be empowering as issues of trust, power and authority are addressed through these relationships, and youth and adults are expected to learn from each other.
Developing youth-adult partnerships is a great way to strengthen bullying prevention efforts. Research shows that when young people have strong connections and relationships with adults they are more resilient. For many young people and adults, those connections, relationships and partnerships can develop through their involvement with the 4-H Youth Development Program. As a partnership between USDA and the Cooperative Extension Service in positive youth development, 4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults.
青少年和成人的合作关系尤其适合防止霸凌方面的工作。年轻人通常对这些问题了解最多，因为，对于刻薄的伤人语言和行为，以及因霸凌、偏见和骚扰得不到解决而产生的恐惧氛围，他们是受影响最深的人。
青少年和成人的合作关系不仅仅是象征性的，或让一两个年轻人参加理事会或委员会，而是以一种重要的、真实的且有意义的方式让青少年参与其中。
关于建立有意义的青少年和成人合作关系的数点建议
- 以真实而有意义的方式与青少年合作，挖掘他们的智慧、知识、能力和技巧。
- 让他们以共同创造者、共同策划者、共同促进者、和共同学习者的身份，并以“准备就绪的状态”和避免成人主义的方式参与进来。
- 为青少年提供发展和实践技能的机会，这将有助于其自身的正向发展，并对您的群体的整体发展做出贡献。
克服成人主义
Developing youth-adult partnerships can also be a powerful strategy for addressing adultism, as many anti-bullying efforts are adult-driven and grounded in adultism. According to John Bell of YouthBuild USA, adultism is the assumption that adults are better than young people, and that adults are entitled to act upon youth without their agreement. While youth need healthy support and guidance from adults, adultism can actually disempower youth. Young people consistently report that the messages they get from the adult world are that they are not as important, are not taken seriously, and that they have little to no power.
成年人不应依靠对青少年的刻板印象，将其贴上霸凌者或受害者的标签，或试图通过惩戒来规范他们的行为，而是应加强反霸凌工作，通过与年轻人合作制定解决策略，以挖掘他们的能力、优势和智慧。鼓励成年人与青少年建立持久的合作关系，以应对霸凌中的复杂问题，并为所有青少年和成人创造安全、稳固和公平的环境。只要有可能，您就应考虑让青少年（或较大的孩子）参与进来，成为您工作中的共同创造者和共同促进者，并探索青少年和成人如何共同努力让这些问题发生积极改变的方式。
- 进一步了解4-H的健康生活计划和密歇根州拓展项目的防止霸凌倡议Be SAFE：安全、肯定和公平环境。