Panel Argues Youth Participation
Can Affect Youth Health Outcomes
On September 11, 2007, the Great Cities Institute (GCI) hosted a
Faculty Scholar Seminar titled Youth Participation as a Protective Factor: Implications
for Improving Adolescent Well-Being and Community Capacity for Health. Structured as a
panel discussion, the seminar was produced in cooperation with the Maternal and Child Health
Program of the UIC School of Public Health. GCI Faculty Scholar Michele Kelley, Associate
Professor at UIC in the School of Public Health, Division of Community Health Sciences, led
the discussion along with Christine Bozlak, Doctoral Candidate in the UIC School of Public
Health. Two practitioners participated in the lecture as discussants: Dr. Myrtis Sullivan,
Associate Director of Family Health with the Illinois Department of Human Services, and Michael
Rodríguez-Muñiz, a graduate student in Sociology, and founding member of the Café Teatro Batey
Urbano of the Juan Antonio Corretjer Puerto Rican Cultural Center.
The presentation sought to discuss the implications of the paradigm shift
from a disease model to a strengths-based model of adolescent health within community settings,
review the science of youth participation and how the concept is defined and used in literature,
and position youth participation within a “community health development” context.
Kelley and Bozlak addressed youth participation in public health research
and practice, drawing upon examples from their work. Professor Kelley spoke about the
traditional approach our health system has with regard to youth health and services, where
generally there is a tendency to mandate, inform, and create policies driven solely by
professional adult decision makers. This current perspective provides little room for youth
to participate in their own community health initiatives. In Kelley’s research, a more hands-on,
inclusive approach has proven to be more successful and also of greater interest and value to youth.
Ms. Bozlak addressed youth participation as a practical element of positive
youth development (PYD). Community-based participation can happen in a multitude of environments
including in school, sports, art, religious, and civic activities. Research has shown that school
participation amounts to fewer visits to the school nurse; sports participation leads to less suicidal
behavior and improved mental and physical health, and civic participation improves critical thinking
skills and non-violent conflict resolution.
Panel discussant Dr. Myrtis Sullivan spoke from a state-level policy perspective.
A focus of Dr. Sullivan’s is to continuously build community confidence through different state programs.
She stated this can be a challenge as there is currently no cohesive national vision or policy regarding
youth development and participation. Given this lack of a national vision, her programs work to incorporate
the philosophy of building on youth assets and participation.
Michael Rodríguez-Muñiz contributed to the discussion from the perspective of a youth
organizer. Rodríguez-Muñiz spoke about his work with Batey Urbano and how creating a space for community —-
specifically youth —- to gather, share performance art, and discuss current issues has helped to foster
an environment in which youth make better choices in healthy activities. Rodríguez-Muñiz has learned through
his experience that, especially in urban settings, focusing on and promoting the assets of a community
with youth provides the youth with a sense of value and helps them feel they have something to contribute.
These lectures are part of the Faculty Scholar Seminar Series, which invites current GCI
Faculty Scholars to speak on current issues and topics regarding their respective research agendas at Great Cities
Institute.
Download a podcast of the entire panel discussion.
View the slides from the presentation.
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