Ballard, Parissa J and Kennedy, Heather K and Collura, Jessica J and Vidrascu, Elena and Torres, Chelsey Garcia (2023) Engaging youth as leaders and partners can improve substance use prevention: a call to action to support youth engagement practice and research. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 18, 71. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-023-00582-7.
External website: https://substanceabusepolicy.biomedcentral.com/art...
BACKGROUND: As a subfield of prevention science, substance use prevention researchers and professionals are increasingly focused on translating research into practice, developing the workforce of prevention specialists, and creating a robust prevention infrastructure. One critical need for professional development among the substance use prevention workforce is training and technical assistance around how to include young people in developing, implementing, and evaluating substance use prevention programs.
MAIN BODY: Amplifying youth voices can increase the quality and responsiveness of youth prevention research and practice, as well as hasten and improve the translation of prevention interventions into practice while also benefiting youth themselves. Yet, youth engagement is multi-layered and nuanced. Training prevention professionals who work with youth in youth development and youth/adult partnerships is critical to support meaningful youth engagement efforts. We assert that the substance use prevention workforce needs at least three specific competencies to engage youth meaningfully in prevention: 1) understand adolescent development and the core elements of youth-adult partnerships; 2) apply this knowledge to program design and practice; and 3) implement relational practices to share power with young people.
CONCLUSION: Incorporating the insights of young people can improve substance use prevention. The substance use prevention workforce should be supported in developing competencies to meaningfully engage youth. These competencies require training, and resources must be devoted to support appropriate training.
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Prevention programme or service
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Prevention approach
L Social psychology and related concepts > Interpersonal interaction and group dynamics > Peer relations / social networks
L Social psychology and related concepts > Interpersonal interaction and group dynamics > Social support > Peer support or coaching
L Social psychology and related concepts > Participation / involvement / engagement / co-production
T Demographic characteristics > Prevention / youth worker
VA Geographic area > United States
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