ERIC Number: ED572744
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 33
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Barriers to Wellness: Voices and Views from Young People in Five Cities
Martinez, Linda Sprague
Center for Promise
Youth of color represent the fastest growing segment of the U.S. child population and make up the majority of the youth population in about half of the 100 largest U.S. cities. Fear, along with inequitable access to social supports, opportunities, and experiences essential for healthy development, place this group at increased risk for poor health outcomes. To better understand the obstacles to well-being experienced by young people of color, the Center for Promise (CfP) implemented a youth-led health and wellness assessment in five cities--Boston, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, and St. Paul--between May and September 2016. This youth-led health assessment was designed to tap into young people's perspectives by engaging them not only as partners, but as leaders in community health research and assessment. Young people identified and prioritized health areas and threats in their communities and led the assessment design and implementation. Adult program staff at each site supported the young people with protocol development and implementation as well as data analysis. While the assessment methods varied from surveys and interviews to photovoice (using photography to observe, document, and discuss the features of a community), common themes emerged across the five cities. Findings include the following: (1) Young people are under stress; (2) Young people feel unsafe; (3) Young people mistrust and fear police, leading to anxiety and avoidance of public places; (4) Young people observe and suffer from a lack of access to community resources; (5) Young people cite stereotyping and racial bias as reasons they feel unsafe and unwelcome; and (6) Young people engage in risky behaviors to cope with stress. The report includes recommendations for steps community decision-makers can take to help young people in urban communities feel safe and welcome in order to improve health outcomes. The following are appended: (1) Youth Training, Protocol Development, and Related Research Methods; (2) The Five Selected Partner Sites; (3) Sample Key Informant Interview Protocol--Denver; and (4) Philadelphia Youth Health Assessment. [Dr. Jonathan Zaff, Craig McClay, and Catalina Tang served as co-investigators. For the Executive Summary, see ED572755.]
Descriptors: Wellness, Barriers, Health Promotion, Urban Areas, Community Programs, Youth Programs, Minority Groups, At Risk Persons, Well Being, Stress Variables, Safety, Fear, Trust (Psychology), Police, Access to Information, Stereotypes, Racial Bias, Coping, Community Involvement, Interviews, Training, Social Bias, Social Justice, Photography, Surveys, Violence, Food, Observation
Center for Promise. Available from: America's Promise Alliance. 1110 Vermont Avenue NW Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005. Tel: 202-657-0600; Fax: 202-657-0601; e-mail: publications@americaspromise.org; Web site: http://www.americaspromise.org/program/center-promise
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Target Corporation
Authoring Institution: America's Promise Alliance, Center for Promise
Identifiers - Location: Massachusetts (Boston); Colorado (Denver); Pennsylvania (Philadelphia); Illinois (Chicago); Minnesota (Saint Paul)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A