223874 Educational Theatre Programs Coordinator

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 9:30 AM - 9:50 AM

Samuel Wood, MFA, BA , Educational Theatre Programs, Kaiser Permanente, Englewood, CO
        
Teens Take It On: Using film to empower high school students to advocate for health changes in their personal lives, their school and their community.

Brian J. Harper, BA, Samuel N. Wood, MFA, BA. Educational Theatre Programs, Kaiser Permanente, 3545 S. Platte River Drive, Unit D, Englewood, CO 80110.

Kaiser Permanente's youth advocacy program, Teens Take It On is cutting-edge. This 6-week high school residency program uses the power of the artistic voice to educate and give voice to high school youth and peers in an effort to promote healthier schools. Students use various forms of media to identify barriers to healthy behaviors for students, challenge the status quo and advocate for change. This presentation will review the methods, strategies and successes of Teens Take It On and highlight the power of youth to advance and sustain CDC and IOM recommended strategies to prevent childhood obesity. During the last five years the Teens Take It On program has successfully changed health policy in 4 Denver Metro Schools. In one school district, an initial process by a group of 20 students catalyzed major changes in school cafeteria offerings, which will impact 84,000 students in 148 schools.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Describe the Teens Take It On program: curriculum, educational techniques for peer educators and youth advocacy practices. Identify three keys to training successful peer educators: creativity, partnership and ownership. Demonstrate the power of youth voice by watching film samples created by TTIO participants. Describe lessons learned and share sustainability results of youth led policy change.

Keywords: School-Based Programs, Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I have overseen and participated in the Teens Take It On program.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4029.0: Youth roles to improve nutrition in schools and communities