Abstract:
This presentation will recognize the strengths and barriers of involving youth in strategic planning for policy change while sharing the success stories of youth as leaders in twelve state coalitions focusing on underage drinking.
The Reducing Underage Drinking through Coalitions (RUD) project has as one of its pillars the involvement of youth. This pillar should be a component of any effort to stop underage drinking. However, given the goal of RUD, state level policy change, the project focus is inherently on adult behavior because it is adults who enact policies (as contrasted with the more individual approach of educating youth in order to prevent them from drinking if they are underage).
There is a wide range of youth development among the coalitions, and the purpose of youth development and its relationship to state policy change is sometimes unclear. Some efforts are geared to develop youth support for policy change; others seek to change social norms; and still others are geared to develop youth leadership skills. All youth efforts have benefit, but given existing resources and time constraints, coalitions can “spread themselves too thin” if youth development isn’t clearly defined and linked to coalition priorities for policy change.
Learning Objectives:
1: have a better understanding of what it takes to develop and keep youth in a leadership position within a coalition
2: understand the importance of youth development in public health policy development
3. hear some success stories
4. learn how to overcome barriers to youth involvement /development
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to 1. identify three key factors in developing and maintaining youth leadership in a state coalition 2. describe the importance of youth development in public health policy development 3. name four ways to overcome barriers to youth involvement/development
Keywords: Alcohol, Advocacy
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation "Reducing Underage Drinking through Coalitions" grantees
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Deputy Director for the national program office for the projects described