Mobilizing change and action in minority communities: A CBPR Youth initiative on Health Disparities

Issues: Youth from the Bronx, NY were funded by NCMHD to research and change the way health disparities are viewed, understood and treated in their community.

Description: The decision making group “Albert's Leaders of Tomorrow (ALOT)” is comprised of 14 teens and 6 adults. They involved over 50 organizations working with youth in the Bronx for support and advice. As leaders of their community, ALOT took on the task of researching 4 health disparities (mental health, reproductive health, injury/violence, and obesity) affecting African American and Latino youth in Bronx. As the first step in this initiative, they interviewed community members (including friends and family) regarding these disparities.

Lesson learned: The youth were astonished and intensely affected by the misconceptions, misinformation and stigma that existed within their communities which they had accepted passively as well. This experience led them to focus on mental health first, and develop an intervention which is now being evaluated.

Recommendations: Youth demonstrated the leadership skills, effort and tenaciousness required to initiate change at the individual and community level. They are proving to be the catalyst in mobilizing the care providers, policy makers and health care industry in New York to pay attention and make changes in the way health care is provided for youth.