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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Brad A. Vanderbilt, BA, Victoria A. Aldaz, BS, and Liliana Ramirez, BS. Masters in Public Health, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, (415) 412-2562, vaaldaz@yahoo.com

Despite increasing interest in exploring the health needs of the rapidly growing Asian and Pacific Islander (API) youth community, little of the extant research has been structured to give voice to API youth themselves. This community participatory assessment, conducted in collaboration with Huckleberry's Cole Street Clinic, looked at the needs and concerns of API youth ages 13 to 18 in San Francisco's Richmond and Sunset districts. A critical aspect of this assessment was an innovative methodology that focused on the active participation of API youth themselves. Through the use of a Youth Assessment Committee (YAC), which was comprised of API youth from the Richmond and Sunset districts, the voice of API youth remained central throughout the assessment process. YAC members provided feedback on assessment tools, provided direct input through in-depth interviews and provided comments on both preliminary and final findings. Most importantly, YAC members recruited and helped to host all focus group sessions. In the process they helped to shape a unique, interactive focus group methodology, designed to get participants up, moving and engaged in the process of sharing their thoughts related to the critical concerns facing them and their peers. Key findings of the assessment pointed to extreme stress and pressure related to parental expectations to succeed among Asian youth, in particular. A pronounced reticence to seek help outside the family and a major sense of taboo regarding mental and reproductive health services were also noted.

Learning Objectives: