Involving youth in public health and policy: The Young Worker Leadership Academy

Many agencies and organizations, including NIOSH, OSHA and APHA, have targeted youth workers as a particularly vulnerable population of workers. There is also a growing interest in involving youth as educators and advocates especially in issues that affect young people themselves. This paper will present the evaluation results of an innovative state-funded leadership training program focused on developing young worker advocates. The program is a partnership between two university-based programs, a state health and safety commission, and a non-profit organization focused on youth development. In 2007, fifty youth attended a 3-day leadership academy in either Los Angeles or Berkeley, including 11 graduates from the 2006 Academies who attended as youth mentors and helped plan and lead activities. Youth attended in teams from 11 different communities throughout California. Through a series of activities, they learned how and why youth are injured at work, discussed other issues that impact youth in the workplace, learned about their rights on the job, and learned how youth can have an impact on public policy, both at the local and state level. After the Academy, teams returned to their communities to conduct local activities to promote young worker health and safety, including both policy and educational strategies, such as improving the work permit systems at their schools, developing radio and video PSAs, and school and community-based presentations. Evaluation results include photo and other documentation of the activities conducted by each team, and follow-up phone interviews with Academy participants to assess the impact of the program.