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304873
Youth Empowered Advocating for Health: Youth-driven research and advocacy for improving community health
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Marjorie Freeman
,
YEAH (Youth Empowered Advocating for Health), Strengthening The Black Family, Inc., Raleigh, NC
Dominica Rehbein, BA
,
Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa, Iowa City
Maia Dedrick, MA
,
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Melvin Jackson, MSPH
,
Strengthening The Black Family, Inc., Raleigh, NC
Alexandra Lightfoot, EdD
,
Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Linda Riggins, BA
,
Strengthening The Black Family, Raleigh, NC
Lashena Washington, MS
,
YEAH (Youth Empowered Advocating for Health), Strengthening The Black Family, Inc., Raleigh, NC
Emily Waters
,
School of Social Work; Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Briana Woods-Jaeger, PhD
,
Community & Behavioral Health, University of Iowa, College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA
The 2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that African American youth experience obesity at a rate 1.8 times greater than that of their white peers. Additionally, the North Carolina Center for Health Statistics found that 36.5% of youth in Wake County are overweight or obese and African American community members demonstrate higher rates of obesity compared to white individuals. Formed through a community-academic partnership, Youth Empowered Advocating for Health (YEAH) is a group of youth and adults raising awareness about the experiences of minority youth and the impact on health. YEAH is led by two Peer Leaders with adult support and provides training for youth in research, advocacy and leadership development. Focusing on addressing obesity in Raleigh, YEAH has worked to raise the voices of a group of community members often absent from the policymaking process. Beginning with a photovoice project, YEAH youth peer leaders explored barriers and facilitators of physical activity among minority youth in Southeast Raleigh. Findings from this research will be shared during a community forum to raise awareness among stakeholders, disseminate findings and action steps, and gather input on action steps and policy priorities to advocate for with local and state policymakers. In this presentation, YEAH youth will describe their experiences with community assessment and advocacy to eliminate childhood obesity disparities among minority youth in their community. We will highlight strategies for promoting youth engagement in a CBPR project and discuss the process of engaging youth in advocacy opportunities that translate research to action.
Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Learning Objectives:
Describe strategies for engaging youth in research and advocacy to promote healthy communities
Identify methods for supporting youth in pursuing advocacy objectives
Discuss youth perspectives on community assessment and policy advocacy
Keyword(s): Community-Based Research (CBPR), Obesity
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Youth Peer Leader for the YEAH (Youth Empowered Advocating for Health) program. I have been participating in research and advocacy training and leadership development through YEAH over the past 3 years.
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.
