The VCC reviewed an exit survey from the committee’s outgoing youth counselor and discussed how to improve recruitment and retention of youth liaisons. Committee members said the survey responses emphasized a generally positive experience but noted website updates and better orientation were needed to help youth participate.

"I like how he says that he enjoyed his experience and how the community works," one committee member said, summarizing the exit survey. Members suggested adding numeric-scale questions (for example, 1-to-10 ratings) and directed, closed questions about time commitment, whether being the only youth in the room is daunting, and other barriers to participation. "Maybe more directed questions about specifically: Is the time commitment too great for a youth? Is it too daunting to be the only youth in the room?" a committee member suggested.

Don, who works with high-school students, recommended orientation and preparatory training for youth liaisons, including a primer on meeting procedures and an overview of expectations. "I don't think there is an orientation," Don said; "some kind of prep would make it less daunting." Members also suggested outreach in classrooms and coordination with the CDC on youth recruitment.

Ending: The committee asked staff to locate background materials on the exit survey’s origin and to consider developing a short orientation for youth liaisons and standard directed exit questions for committees.