From Consultation to Shared Decision-Making: Youth Engagement Strategies for Promoting School and Community Wellbeing

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The benefits of youth engagement are well documented. In this paper, we examine youth engagement in America's Promise Alliance's Every School Healthy initiative, a part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Together for Healthy and Successful Schools Initiative (THSS). METHODS: Six community acceleration sites were selected through a competitive grant-making process. Sites were required to describe youth engagement strategies. A case study design was employed to examine how sites conceptualize youth engagement as well as youth engagement strategies employed across 6 sites. Data sources included observations, team member debriefs, and document review. RESULTS: There was variation in how youth engagement and youth voice are conceptualized in educational settings, and readiness for youth engagement. Sites actively solicited and implemented youth engagement resources and strategies. CONCLUSIONS: By failing to engage young people, well-intentioned adults miss important opportunities. Youth engagement presents an exciting opportunity for school leaders, policymakers, and program planners to gain a deeper understanding of the factors that influence individual and community health and wellbeing and, in turn, helps them to develop responsive policies and programs.