Understanding the role of youth engagement in the design and implementation of a science-based youth development program that reduces ATOD use for Cambodian-American adolescents

Adult allies from a community health center and mentoring agency spent one year guiding a team of 25 youth advisors from Cambodian-American backgrounds to design and implement an ATOD prevention program in an urban city in Massachusetts. Adult allies garnered the attention and commitment of local youth through authentic engagement strategies that focused on relationship-building. The intergenerational team utilized dynamic weekly workgroups to engage stakeholders throughout the planning process to create the “Cambodian Youth Development Partnership”. Youth supported by adult allies (funded through a SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Prevention grant) developed the vision, mission, core values, goals and objectives that served as the foundation for the project. Additionally, youth led focus groups, participated in science-based curricula testing, generated youth development strategies, and provided input for the overall design of the program. Youth provided valuable guidance for the needs assessment which led to a culturally relevant approach and implementation plan. Following a successful planning year, the “Cambodian Youth Development Partnership” was awarded a $1M four-year grant from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to implement the program as designed. The CYDP is now in its third year of implementation and youth continue to guide strategic planning and programming. Youth-driven approaches should be considered when developing prevention projects that impact adolescents. The "Cambodian Youth Development Partnership" provides practical guidance for public health professionals to better understand the role of youth engagement in the design and implementation of ATOD prevention projects that impact immigrant and refugee communities.