Healthy Young People Empowerment (HYPE) Project: Facilitator's Guide

Modifying policies, systems, and environments (PSE) is recognized as one of the most promising strategies for addressing population-wide obesity concerns. Creating communities that facilitate healthy eating and active living (HE/AL), including play-friendly environments for children and families, will require the involvement of numerous constituencies. Youth voices can be especially powerful in influencing the priorities and actions of decision-makers, but preparing today’s youth to be the future leaders of healthy communities is a crucial first step. To this end, the Healthy Young People Empowerment (HYPE) Project is a collaboration between the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Eat Smart Move More South Carolina, and the University Of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health. The HYPE Project is an evidence- and theory-based curriculum to enhance the capacity of adolescents to plan and implement PSE change projects centered around healthy eating and active living in their communities. The HYPE curriculum is structured as facilitator-led 60 minute sessions through five progressive stages: Think, Learn, Act, Share, and Evaluate. HYPE was pilot-tested in three SC communities in Fall 2012 and is ongoing to date. This presentation will describe the process of developing the HYPE curriculum, its stages and activities, as well as the evaluation related to youth capacity (e.g., awareness, skills, empowerment, self-efficacy) and community change (e.g., improved policymaker attitudes and intentions, PSE modifications). Recognizing and developing youth as resources for PSE change can enhance efforts to create better community environments for play, healthy eating, active living, and childhood obesity prevention