Youth involvement is imperative to our state adolescent/young adult programs. Youth can aid in the success of the adolescent health and teen pregnancy prevention programs by providing feedback, ideas, and suggestions. Adolescents and young adults know what is most effective for their peers. If they are involved, they are able to share their feedback on the practices that are currently in place. Youth also tend to be creative and have different ideas on how to solve problems. This creativity could lead to ways to make the adolescent/young adult programs more effective. Finally, most youth would be excited to be involved in making their population healthier; therefore, they are willing to give suggestions and respond to suggestions that are given to them.

Xavier Barraza
Youth Advocate
New Mexico Forum for Youth in Community

I feel the importance of youth engagement in any 'program', specifically concerning 'health' is so rudimentary, that many tend to over look it. A 'healthy program' instinctually takes into account the role of interdependence and intersectionality of all living beings, at all stages of development, within the community where it's being implemented. Whether that community is a neighborhood, school, city, county, state, country or world. To have awareness of all beings (especially those that are Youthful) is to also include their lens, voice, emotions, values, beliefs and experiences that carry critical information that is necessary for a measurement to draw and assess scientifically sound conclusions, solutions and issues within a community.In essence, youthful beings are a variable with place in the equation of all communities.

Title V/MCH Perspective

By Jessica Duke
Manager, Adolescent and School Health, Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division

The Oregon Health Public Health Division, Adolescent & School Health Unit supports Youth Participatory Research (YPAR) projects with community and School-Based Health Center grantees. YPAR is an evidence-based method of engaging youth in programs and policies that impact their lives. YPAR provides opportunities for youth to build their skills in research, team work, communications and community involvement. Recently, 12 YPAR projects were completed. Youth researchers looked at teen stress and depression, mental health stigma, youth violence/increasing bystander awareness, suicide awareness, barriers to mental health services, sleep and other topics. With each project, youth shared their findings with school and community members and shared their ideas for improved mental health outcomes. The Youth Participatory Action Research curriculum is available at https://public.health.oregon.gov/HealthyPeopleFamilies/Youth/Documents/CurriculumYPAR2014.pdf.