Sharry Erzinger, DrPH and Jean Scandlyn, PhD. University of Colorado at Denver, Health and Behavioral Sciences, POB 173364, Denver, CO 80217, 303-556-4300, Sharry.Erzinger@cudenver.edu

International and local community responses to the overwhelming numbers of vulnerable children and AIDS orphans challenge service providers to expand their view of ‘the community’ to include the voices of children and youth. Whereas the arousal of catastrophic images may engender alarm that results in availability of funding, an overemphasis upon sadness, struggle and tragedy victimizes children and youth beyond their original experience.

Developmentally appropriate emphasis on strengths with a value on their participation in community decisions provides children and youth with important skills for future. Examples from existing programs in a variety of countries illustrate the range of youth participation in community life. In addition, observations and related research from work with children who have disabilities, homeless and street-working youth, and children who have been traumatized emphasize the important framework of resiliency and protective characteristics of children combined with appropriate adult responses. Inclusion of their opinions present some challenges to the service providers who manage programs on their behalf.

Development of the decision making capacity of youth who care for community provides a model of service and healing that can enable the autonomy, preparation for labor force, and quality of life required to become productive citizens.

Learning Objectives:

• · Illustrate the range of community participation by youth in programs for vulnerable children and youth and AIDS orphans.
• · Describe the challenges for service providers who work in programs as they work to include the participation of children and youth.
• · Apply existing research on developmentally based resiliency and protective factors, homeless and working street children, traumatized children and those with disabilities to the increasing numbers of vulnerable children and youth and AIDS orphans.

Keywords: Vulnerable Populations, Community Participation

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.