The American Legacy Foundation funds the Statewide Youth Movement Against Tobacco Use grants in an effort to address tobacco prevention and control through the direct involvement of youth. Twelve program states and eight planning states began implementation in 2000. Each grantee supports the development or expansion of local and statewide youth coalitions tasked with designing, implementing, and leading tobacco prevention efforts. States began to implement their youth empowerment models by holding youth summits, creating youth-led advisory boards, and sponsoring training opportunities for both youth and adults. The states confronted initial challenges in defining and applying youth empowerment to their existing tobacco control efforts. Many adults, for instance, were reluctant or slow to empower youth as the decision-makers. Even states that successfully fostered youth empowerment programs have faced challenges in meeting initial program objectives on a timely basis. Legacy provides ongoing training and technical assistance to the states in implementing the youth empowerment programs. Past efforts have included a grantee conference with youth involved as both participants and trainers, and linkages to other youth empowerment efforts not involved in tobacco control. A review of these efforts will lead into a discussion of current youth empowerment strategies and the future implication for tobacco control efforts.
Learning Objectives: 1. To describe various approaches state grantees of have undertaken to insure youth empowerment in designing, implementing, and leading local tobacco prevention activities; 2. To provide an assessment of initial and ongoing challenges and successes in supporting youth empowerment activities; and, 3. To discuss lessons learned in applying a youth empowerment model, including specific training and technical assistance strategies, and identify the future impact of youth empowerment in tobacco control.
Keywords: Youth, Tobacco Control
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: American Legacy Foundation
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment