Positive youth development is critical to building civic leadership and long-term community sustainability in Rock County. The Rock County Board of Supervisors confirmed its desire to explore the benefits of a Youth in Governance program in furthering these ends by passing Resolution R-2023-332 establishing an Ad Hoc Rock County Youth in Governance Exploratory Committee on November 16, 2023, and Resolution R-2024-517 establishing a Youth in Governance Pilot Program for 2025 – 2026. The Ad Hoc Youth in Governance Exploratory Committee has successfully implemented the Youth in Governance Pilot Program with six youth representatives and has continually monitored the Program’s development, and;

The Ad Hoc Rock County Youth in Governance Exploratory Committee at its September 3, 2025 meeting voted to recommended the continuation of the Rock County Youth in Governance Program. The Rock County Board of Supervisors authorized the continuation of a Rock County Youth in Governance Program with between six (6) and ten (10) youth participants per year. Oversight of the Program shall be the responsibility of a new Ad Hoc Rock County Youth in Governance Committee consisting of three (3) Rock County Supervisors and four (4) Rock County resident citizen members ideally one of which will be of an age eligible for participation in the Youth in Governance program. Youth Participants shall not be considered official members of the Standing Committees in which they participate and shall not receive per diems or mileage for their attendance at meetings.