Engaging and empowering youth to address health inequities in their communities

Background

Since 2007, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation has funded six community partnerships, known as Food & Fitness Partnerships, to improve equity in access to healthy, locally-grown food and environments that encourage active living.  The partnerships have targeted policy and systems change efforts in the most vulnerable neighborhoods, and have consciously engaged and empowered youth living in these communities to do this work.   

 Methods

Partnerships reported annual data regarding systems and policy changes, including outcomes related to youth development and engagement, and the Center for Managing Chronic Disease team at the University of Michigan conducted  interviews with 62 youth over three time points. 

 Results

Partnerships reported avenues for engaging and empowering youth, including:  dedicated seats on partnerships committees, youth internship and employment opportunities, participatory evaluations, and youth advocacy workshops.  Outcomes reported by partnerships  included creation of a youth-designed and powered mobile farm stand;  installation of salad bars in schools, instigated by youth; development of youth food councils and youth school wellness teams; and creation of youth park stewardship programs.  Themes which emerged from analyses of youth interviews included the importance of having active, hands on projects for youth; how critical it is to engage youth on their terms; and the importance of youth seeing community change to keep them motivated.

 Conclusions

Engaging and empowering youth to address equity of access takes planning and forethought; requires regular communication, training, and feedback; and helps to create sustainable systems and policy change.