Youth and adult partnerships in CMCA implementation

Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA) is currently being implemented in communities nationwide to reduce underage drinking. Engaging youth effectively is a critical part of implementation, and the way in which this is accomplished varies by community. This presentation will highlight CMCA initiatives that feature young people in prominent leadership roles in implementation. For each CMCA community highlighted, an overview will be provided of the roles of young people and adults; how the youth-adult partnership was formed and supported; the strategies implemented; and the community changes that were achieved. In addition, the strengths and challenges of youth-adult partnerships in CMCA implementation will be considered and lessons learned will be drawn from successful efforts.