Engaging Human Services and Behavioral Health Professionals in Youth-led, Adult-guided Social Action Initiatives

Abstract

Professional and community leaders in Washington, D.C. have expressed the need for more capacity building and increased resources to address health inequities in the city’s underserved African American communities. Inequities (“food deserts,” community decay, and limited youth opportunities) require equity-informed approaches. Disparities (disproportionate substance use/behavioral health disorders) also require system-level approaches. In response, the Wards 7 and 8 DC Prevention Center (DCPC), a community-based nonprofit, collaborated with residents, community partners, and academic institutions to provide trainings and certifications to its team and community stakeholders. Initially, DCPC staff members were trained through evidence-informed approaches including Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) and Photovoice trainings. CPS training uses workshops and tools from the D.C. Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) to train staff to conduct assessments and build community partnerships. Photovoice provides a less intimidating process for vulnerable populations and professionals to collect data, identify social/environmental factors that impact health and well-being, share concerns, communicate with policymakers, and identify solutions to collectively address issues. In turn, DCPC staff trained youth and human services professionals to conduct Photovoice assessments to highlight the misuse of opioids and the negative effects on their communities. Community stakeholders continue to request the assistance of CPS staff and training for themselves. CPS and Photovoice training demonstrated the potential value of these approaches for students and professionals in the human services fields for supporting equity-informed initiatives. We present lessons learned and best practices in how to apply this multi-component approach as an effective strategy for preparing youth, graduate students in human services, and psychology professionals to engage in social action.