Massachusetts Peer Leadership Network: A Collaborative Model of Engaging Multiple Peer Leadership Programs around the State

The Peer Leadership Network (PLN), funded by Health Resources in Action and managed by a Youth Leadership Board, convenes 100 youth peer leaders, and their adult advisors, in Massachusetts who work in programs focused on different public health topics (e.g. obesity prevention). The PLN was created as an innovative way of connecting peer leaders to share best practices, learn what other programs are doing and be trained on a public health topic. With youth at the forefront, the PLN hosted statewide gatherings and conference and developed an online peer leadership directory. In 2010, various peer leadership groups across the state requested further networking opportunities to facilitate and encourage long lasting connections for their youth to continue public health work in their communities. In 2012, the PLN evolved from a once-a-year peer leadership conference to a program that offered five smaller networking events, one culminating statewide peer leadership conference and the first statewide peer leadership directory. The goals of PLN are to: 1) maximize the potential of youth to develop skills and create positive change in their communities; 2) build alliances and networks among peer leaders throughout the state so they can support one another and share best practices; 3) expose youth to peer leader programs to increase opportunities for growth and leadership and grow their social capital 4) and facilitate networking opportunities by developing an online peer leadership directory. This session will provide lessons learned on how to effectively and creatively engage youth peer leaders in public health efforts statewide.