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In recent years, a growing recognition of meaningful youth engagement and the power of user-driven programs has fueled efforts to identify best practices for engaging youth in health initiatives. Programs that involve youth are proven to be more effective at engaging the population and, therefore, to have a greater impact.
Involving the target group, especially for youth-oriented programs aimed at addressing health disparities, requires that engagement be undertaken equitably. Youth Listening Sessions (YLS) offer an opportunity to meaningfully engage youth, signal that their opinions are valuable, and incorporate their voices into program discovery, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
What Communities Can Do
It is important that communities involve adolescents in state, regional, and local efforts and in decisions that affect adolescents’ lives. Communities can lay a foundation for successful PYD efforts with a range of youth engagement strategies, including youth councils or governing boards and youth service and leadership efforts.
There are a few different community-wide PYD models that have been tested and shown to be effective in supporting youth. Two examples of evidence-based community strengthening programs, Communities that Care (CTC) and Promoting School-Community-University Partnerships to Enhance Resilience (PROSPER), work with existing programs to incorporate PYD principles such as building relationships with adults, setting goals, engaging with family and community, and focusing on finding strengths and building skills.
Learn more about what communities can to do to support PYD
- Youth Advisory Councils | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Creating Safe Schools for LGBTQ+ Youth | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Start a Youth Program | National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth
- Examples of Community Resources | The Forum for Youth Investment
- Six Tips for Increasing Meaningful Youth Engagement in Programs | USAID
- Youth Development Across the Federal Government | Youth.gov
- Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow® | Youth.gov