270099 Community-Based Public Health Caucus Youth Council: A national voice for young adults working to promote community-driven health equity and social justice

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Maya Saunders , Sophomore, Salve Regina University, Newport, RI
Quinton Williams , YOUR Center, Central Michigan University, Flint, MI
Korin Merle , City College of San Francisco, Oakland, CA
Jonathan Lopez , California WALKS, Oakland, CA
Terrance Campbell, MSISM, MA Ed, PhD Candidate , YOUR Center, Flint, MI
Wendy Alfsen, JD , California WALKS, Oakland, CA
Anthony Fleg, MD, MPH , Native Health Initiative, Albuquerque, NM
Irene S. Bayer , CREATE for STEM Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Introduction: The Community-Based Public Health Caucus (CBPHC) Youth Council (YC) was founded to provide a national voice for youth focused on promoting health equity and social justice. YC members are a diverse group ages 13-24 actively engaged in their communities for positive changes through working on local projects, presenting at local and national meetings, and connecting with their peers via digital media (including social media). Key to success of this national model is support of each YC member by a sponsoring local organization with a designated representative on the YC Support Team (YCST).

Methods/Results: The YC first met at the 2010 American Public Health Association Annual Meeting (APHA). Nine youth were identified by a planning committee of 20 CBPHC members actively involved with youth. They began meeting by Internet and phone to organize and prepare for APHA, including developing an interactive itinerary. Most also presented in CBPHC sessions. YC meets monthly by conference call/webinar. In 2011, they hosted a national series of webinars on health disparities by youth for youth called “Health Equity Peer Educators Training”. Thirteen YC youth attended APHA 2011 where they co-presented their research, ratified a constitution, and elected officers. For 2012, YC continues to create a system of sharing across distance and between generations focusing on “Prevention and Wellness across Lifespan,” modeling youth mentoring and inspiring formation of other youth-driven collaborations.

Discussion: This session co-presented by YC and YCST members will discuss the background, goals and objectives, challenges, and lessons learned.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Advocacy for health and health education
Diversity and culture

Learning Objectives:
Learning Objectives: 1. Discuss the background and history of the Community-Based Public Health Youth Council. 2. Explain the key components of the model of a national public health youth organization. 3. Identify the role and significance of the Youth Council Support Team in sustainability. 4. Describe how social networking tools, including social media, webinars, website technology are used by youth to connect across distance and between generations. 5. Describe the components of a webinar series organized for youth by youth on health disparities. 6. List goals and objectives of the Youth Council. 7. Discuss challenges and lessons learned in establishing and sustaining a national youth organization.

Keywords: Community-Based Public Health, Youth at Work

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a founding Youth Council member and 2012 Vice President
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.

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