Partners and Peers for Youth Violence Prevention: the Co-Creation of a Healthy Relationship Ambassadors Program
Abstract
Background:
Georgia PREVAYL (Preventing Violence Affecting Young Lives) is a CDC grant given to the Georgia Department of Public Health to address shared risk and protective factors for youth violence in Georgia. Local implementation includes healthy relationship education for youth, partnership and coalition building, and resource development for clients of the Teen Matters clinics.
Methods:
Multiple forms of youth violence (e.g. suicide, gang violence, etc) have shared risk and protective factors, meaning if we address one form, we address them all. PREVAYL is a community data-driven program with a focus on collaborating with community partners such as Teen Matters health educators, domestic violence organizations, and school administration to build and improve upon prevention programs addressing multiple forms of violence through healthy relationships education and sex education. Teens are viewed as experts in their experiences and are empowered to share feedback and provide consultation throughout PREVAYL programs.
Results:
GA PREVAYL has co-created a peer ambassador group for healthy teen relationships with local stakeholders. This program includes sessions on teen dating violence, the relationship spectrum, communication and boundaries, consent, and teen-led event planning for health promotion. There have been two cohorts since Fall 2022 with 14 graduates. The groups have created events and activities like 'Build-a-Bae,' a tabling activity promoting healthy relationships which reached about 500 students.
Conclusions:
For youth engagement to be successful, it must be student led. Activities need to be relevant and interactive, not only based on what has always been done or what adults think would work. Plain language is vital in these activities to communicate effectively with teens.
Keywords
violence prevention, youth engagement, teen dating violence
Partners and Peers for Youth Violence Prevention: the Co-Creation of a Healthy Relationship Ambassadors Program
Background:
Georgia PREVAYL (Preventing Violence Affecting Young Lives) is a CDC grant given to the Georgia Department of Public Health to address shared risk and protective factors for youth violence in Georgia. Local implementation includes healthy relationship education for youth, partnership and coalition building, and resource development for clients of the Teen Matters clinics.
Methods:
Multiple forms of youth violence (e.g. suicide, gang violence, etc) have shared risk and protective factors, meaning if we address one form, we address them all. PREVAYL is a community data-driven program with a focus on collaborating with community partners such as Teen Matters health educators, domestic violence organizations, and school administration to build and improve upon prevention programs addressing multiple forms of violence through healthy relationships education and sex education. Teens are viewed as experts in their experiences and are empowered to share feedback and provide consultation throughout PREVAYL programs.
Results:
GA PREVAYL has co-created a peer ambassador group for healthy teen relationships with local stakeholders. This program includes sessions on teen dating violence, the relationship spectrum, communication and boundaries, consent, and teen-led event planning for health promotion. There have been two cohorts since Fall 2022 with 14 graduates. The groups have created events and activities like 'Build-a-Bae,' a tabling activity promoting healthy relationships which reached about 500 students.
Conclusions:
For youth engagement to be successful, it must be student led. Activities need to be relevant and interactive, not only based on what has always been done or what adults think would work. Plain language is vital in these activities to communicate effectively with teens.
