The Benefits of Youth Engagement in HIV-Preventive Structural Change Interventions

Abstract

Youth are infrequently included in planning the health promotion projects designed to benefit them as many of the factors infringing upon youth’s health and well-being also limit their engagement in community-based public health promotion projects. This article explores youth engagement in 13 coalitions implementing structural changes meant to reduce HIV transmission among adolescents. There was wide variation of youth membership and involvement across coalitions. Using analytic induction, the authors show that youth engagement was associated with the successful completion of structural change efforts. The authors also describe how youth engagement indirectly facilitated coalitions’ success. The authors suggest that youth engagement in planning and conducting structural interventions is itself a valuable structural change.

Creating Youth-Supportive Communities: Outcomes from the Connect-to-Protect® (C2P) Structural Change Approach to Youth HIV Prevention

“…Few of the adolescent medicine trials units are steeped in a culture of or experienced at engaging youth in the clinical work and medical research which constitutes their staff’s greatest expertise. Youth involvement varied substantially as a consequence (Reed and Miller 2014). Though most tried to engage youth, all but a few coalitions struggled to engage youth in meaningful roles over their initial 4 years (Reed and Miller 2014).…”

“…Youth involvement varied substantially as a consequence (Reed and Miller 2014). Though most tried to engage youth, all but a few coalitions struggled to engage youth in meaningful roles over their initial 4 years (Reed and Miller 2014). …”

The new mentality: Youth–adult partnerships in community mental health promotion

“…In a community-based participatory research project on health promotion involving homeless youth, for example, Garcia, Minkler, Cardenas, Grills, and Porter (2014) described the success of youth researchers in changing policy (e.g., related to recreation). Further, youth engagement in programs intended to reduce HIV transmission among youth found that greater, more meaningful youth engagement was linked to more success in program objectives (Reed & Miller, 2014). Reed and Miller (2014) also identified the successful functioning of the projects as, in themselves, tangible contributions, as their existence changes the structure of a system that has not been inviting to youth participation.…”

“…Further, youth engagement in programs intended to reduce HIV transmission among youth found that greater, more meaningful youth engagement was linked to more success in program objectives (Reed & Miller, 2014). Reed and Miller (2014) also identified the successful functioning of the projects as, in themselves, tangible contributions, as their existence changes the structure of a system that has not been inviting to youth participation.…”

“…Also noted in studies of Y-APs outside of the mental health domain, however, is the importance of youth's personal connections to program activities (e.g., through the pursuit of a larger purpose; Dawes & Larson, 2011). Successful Y-APs, in and of themselves, also have been identified as examples of cultural change within community or youth health promotion (Reed & Miller, 2014). Other studies have also indicated that youth-focused and skilled program leaders need to balance not just simultaneous youth needs but also the needs of the program and organization, while maintaining youth engagement and structured and meaningful relationships between adults and youth (e.g., Larson & Walker, 2010).…”