Youth engaged in research and policy action: Lessons learned from three community-based participatory research projects to influence public policy at the local and state levels

Victoria Adela Vásquez Breckwich, MPH, MA, DrPH(c), School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, 140 Warren Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, 510-652-5432, vbv@uclink.berkeley.edu and Meredith Minkler, DrPH, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 140 Earl Warren Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-7360.

Youth engagement in community-based participatory research (CBPR) is growing, yet their role in formulating and advocating public health policy has not yet been well documented. This session will feature stories from youth advocates in diverse communities who have attempted to impact on public health policy at the local and state levels. Their use of CBPR techniques in their work with researchers and health departments has contributed to the development of strong policy initiatives informed by their own community-based research. The session will draw on findings from a multi-site case study to discuss innovative research and policy advocacy approaches, the models or methods in use, and the lessons learned in youth-led efforts to improve community health through systems change. Special challenges faced by CBPR efforts that are led by youth will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

By the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to

Describe the processes and challenges of policy development in youth-led CBPR efforts.
Identify the key components of community-based participatory research and their relationship to effective policy action in youth-led efforts.
Articulate successful models and methods used in policy advocacy and researcher-community collaboration with youth.
Apply lessons learned from youth-led projects to their own efforts at influencing public health policy at the local and state levels.

Keywords: Youth, Public Health Policy

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.

Recorded presentation

Translating Research into Changes in Policy and Decision-Making at the Federal, State and Local Level

The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA