The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #62112

Kimberlee Wyche-Etheridge, MD, MPH, Director Division of Child and Adolescent Health, Metro Nashville Public Health Department, 311 23rd Ave North, Nashville, TN 37203, 615-340-5614, kimberlee.wyche@nashville.gov and Jennifer Kosinski, Youth Advisory Board, Division of Child and Adolescent Health, Metro Nashville Public Health Department, 311 23rd Ave North, Nashville, TN 37203.

Project A.S.K, (Adolescents Seeking Knowledge) provides an innovative approach to address teen health issues in Nashville, by developing the next generation of public health leaders. For the last 4 years the Metro Public Health Department, MPHD, has had a Youth Advisory Board, YAB. It was established to keep the health community abreast of youth issues, and provide a youth perspective. The YAB is made up of 30 members, ages 14-18. Selected MPHD employees volunteer to teach members of the YAB basic public health skills. The YAB uses this new knowledge to scientifically identify a health concern affecting youth, research it, and create an intervention to address it. The project provides opportunities for youth asset building, thereby encompassing the framework of youth development. The group meets every other Saturday for four months. Each session is three hours and consists of one hour of interactive teaching, a period of Q and A where students have the opportunity to ask career questions and then the second half of the session is dedicated to working on their project. Project A.S.K. seeks to: 1. Raise youth self-efficacy, 2. Improve knowledge of health issues, 3. Highlight math and science concepts tested in the schools,4. Build leadership qualities, 5. Improve the sense of community, and 6.Emphasize respect for self and peers. All of this is accomplished by building on the strengths of youth. Because the skills and knowledge will be used to educate peers about a health issue, other youth also increase their understanding of health.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session participants will:
• Have a clear understading of the core concepts of youth development
• Have a clear understanding of how public health can be taught to youth using a youth development model
• Understand the importance of training the next generation of public health officials

Keywords: Young Professionals, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.