Peer education is a proven method for educating many different populations about community and health issues. It is one of the most effective ways to disseminate prevention/harm reduction information to youth and other community members. There are many health education/outreach models were the peer educators role is that of a youth community health worker. Youth peer educators are ususally cross trained in multiple health topics and like other community health workers, they do community outreach, health education, workshops, and forums. These youth community health workers are usually from the communities they serve, understand the health issues of that community, and serve as a gateway to care and services for other community members. For the last 6 years I have presented and facilitated sessions at the APHA annual conference that not only discusses these youth community health workers, but invites them to present. Youth will discuss: their role in agency/program, reason for entering & staying in CHW field, and discuss how important it is for programs to involve youth on all levels of program planning and implemetation. This session will also have this diverse panel of youth present their experiences as community health workers and the innovative strategoes they utilize to reach their target populations.
Learning Objectives: Participantants will learn the important role youth peer educators/community health workers play in public health and in the health of the communities they serve.
Keywords: Community Health Promoters, Youth at Work
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: I will invite youth community health workers from 5-8 agencies in the metro-Atlanata are to discuss their programs and activities to promote healthier communities.
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.