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An adult advocate for young adolescents can be anyone who is committed to supporting and promoting the rights, needs, and well-being of young adolescents.

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A couple of examples of who can be an Adult Advocate for young adolescents  

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A couple of examples of who can be an Adult Advocate for young adolescents  

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Adult advocates for student support. (n.d.). https://www.doe.mass.edu/ccte/ccr/massgrad/eval-reports/2016-sumbrief-adultadvocates.docx

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Bishop, P., & Harrison, L. M. (2021). The successful middle school: This we believe. Columbus, OH: Association for Middle Level Education.

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This We Believe in Action: Implementing successful middle level schools. (2012). Westerville, OH: Association for Middle Level Education.

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Other examples of adult advocates are teachers and school counselors. Educators and school counselors can advocate for young adolescents within the school system by ensuring that their educational and emotional needs are met. A teacher can support their students by being an advocate so the students know who to lean on and students may feel for example “I can do this. I can make this happen. I can achieve more than this. Because my teachers have my back.” (Tomlin, 2021) By having this confidence and support students are more motivated in school and helps motivate them outside of school.

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Another example of adult advocacy is parents or guardians. Parents and guardians can play a crucial role in advocating for their own children as well as for other young adolescents within their community. They can advocate for better education, healthcare, and community resources.

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Any adult ally who cares about the well-being and development of young adolescents can serve as an advocate. Advocacy can take many forms, from providing direct support and guidance to young adolescents to influencing policies and systems that affect their lives. (Boys & Girls Clubs of America, 2018)

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An adult advocate for young adolescents is someone who actively supports and promotes the rights, needs, and well-being of individuals. Adults who are advocates work to ensure that young adolescents are provided with the resources, opportunities, and support necessary for their healthy development and success. As stated in Adolescents Thrive on Advocacy and Agency, "I think advocacy and agency are critical pieces of string woven together in the fabric of middle grades student empowerment. They can’t be pulled apart. When treated with care, the fabric expands and offers security, welcome, and assurance for all students." (Tomlin, 2021).

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Some Key roles and responsibilities an adult advocate 

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Some Key roles and responsibilities an adult advocate 

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We can promote awareness. As an Advocate, we raise awareness about the unique challenges and issues faced by young adolescents, including physical and emotional changes, social pressures, educational needs, and more. We provide support. We offer guidance, mentorship, and emotional support to young adolescents, helping them navigate challenges and make positive choices in their lives. We can create positive environments. Advocates work to create inclusive and supportive environments where young adolescents feel safe, respected, and valued, whether at home, in school, or within the community.

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There are many avenues where you can advocate for young adolescents as an adult. Here are some possibilities:

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There are many avenues where you can advocate for young adolescents as an adult. Here are some possibilities:

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Nonprofit Organizations

Community Centers and Youth Organizations

Mental Health and Social Services

Online Platforms and Social Media

Schools and Educational institutions

For example, schools may set up certain programs to help teachers play the role of an advocate for students. Living With and Teaching Young Adolescents: A Teacher's Perspective, describes advisory programs, "Such a program develops close relationships between students and adults, gives them a sense of belonging and an advocate."(Wormeli, 2020)

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This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents  

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This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents  

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"Advocacy is not a singular event or a period in the schedule, it is an attitude of caring that translates into actions, big and small, when adults respond to the needs of each young adolescent in their charge." (Association for Middle Level Education, 2010)

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Tomlin, D. (2021, April 8). Advocacy and agency in the middle grades!. AMLE. https://www.amle.org/advocacy-and-agency-in-the-middle-grades/

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R, A. (2022, February 7). What is youth advocacy and why do we need it?. AES Impact. https://aesimpact.org/what-is-youth-advocacy-and-why-do-we-need-it/#:~:text=Youth%20advocacy%20is%20important%20because,their%20opinions%20are%20still%20forming.

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5 quick tips: Here’s how adult allies can support youth advocacy. Boys & Girls Clubs of America. (2024, March 5). https://www.bgca.org/news-stories/2018/April/how-adult-allies-can-support-youth-advocacy/

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There are many reasons why someone might choose to become an advocate for young adolescents. Here are some of the reasons that motivate us to do so. 

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There are many reasons why someone might choose to become an advocate for young adolescents. Here are some of the reasons that motivate us to do so. 

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1. Belief in the Potential of Young Adolescents: Adults recognize the incredible potential and capacity for growth that young adolescents possess. They believe that investing in the well-being and development of young adolescents can lead to positive outcomes for individuals, families, communities, and society as a whole.

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2. The Desire to Make a Positive Impact: Advocates for young adolescents are often driven by a desire to make a positive difference in the lives of young adolescents. They are passionate about creating supportive environments, providing opportunities for growth and learning, and empowering young adolescents to thrive.

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3. Recognition of the Importance of Adolescent Development: Adolescence is a critical period of development characterized by rapid physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes. Advocates recognize the importance of providing support and resources during this formative stage to help young adolescents navigate challenges, build resilience, and realize their potential. As stated in Advocacy and Agency in the Middle Grades, "In fact, when young adolescents have advocates in the middle grades, they develop another powerful mindset: self-efficacy in all areas of their learning lives." (Tomlin, 2021). With students becoming self-efficient they can start navigating those challenges they run into in life.

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How many have served as an advocate? Was it... 

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This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents. (2010). Westerville, OH: Association for Middle-Level Education.

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Have you ever had an adult advocate in your corner? How do you think we can create more advocates across adults?

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You can be an advocate for young adolescents at any time, regardless of your age or occupation. Advocacy for young adolescents is not limited by age; rather, it's driven by a passion for supporting the well-being, development, and rights of young adolescents. An important time for student advocacy is in middle school. As stated in Living With and Teaching Young Adolescents: A Teacher's Perspective, "The ways we deal with conflict, relationships, and personal development as adults have direct connections to specific experiences we had between the ages of ten and fourteen." (Wormeli, 2020). We have a chance to help create a very positive future and help guide them down the right paths for these young adolescents.

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Some one that is their for the student and can give the child some resources to give them the help they need