The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #74113

Kym Dorman, MPH, Harder and Company Community Research, 1550 Bryant Street, suite 1000, San Francisco, CA 94103, 415-522-5400, kdorman@harderco.com

This presentation examines the case of youth in Bay View Hunter's Point (BVHP), San Francisco's largest African-American community, becoming involved in city policymaking. Together with public health activists and a community steering committee, young people from BVHP identified youth joblessness as a serious factor underlying health problems in their community. They took action on this issue by working with the district supervisor to initiate city action directed at unemployment. In taking these steps, the youth learned how they can affect decisions on a city wide basis and work to make city hall accountable to their needs.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants in the session will gain information and insight into how to involve previously uninvolved and often marginalized groups in the policy making process at the local level, particularly as it impacts health policy.

Keywords: Access and Services, Health Activism

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.