Washington DC

Building Youth Leaders for HIV Prevention Initiatives

The Office of the State Superintendent Wellness and Nutrition Services Department, Healthy Youth Development Team, in collaboration with District of Columbia Public School (DCPS), Office of Youth Engagement, convened the third cohort of the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) in 2011. Currently, the YAC has a total of 18 members. Seven members are from District of Columbia Public Schools and 11 members are from Public Charter Schools.

Since August 2011, YAC members have undergone comprehensive sexual health education training, facilitated a parent workshop, conducted outreach during the 26th annual Black Family Reunion event, planned a winter clothing drive and participated in the Youth Kick off to AIDS 2012. Thus far, the YAC has been trained in:

• Sexual Health 101- Trained by OSSE
• Presentation and Facilitation – Trained by OSSE
• Leadership 101- Trained by OSSE and National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth Institute for Educational Leadership
• Mental Health/ Suicide – Trained by DCPS
• Domestic Violence- Break the Cycle

In the spring, the YAC is scheduled to receive additional training on bullying and violence prevention, school advocacy, LGBTQ awareness, and nutrition. In addition to community outreach initiatives, the YAC will also partner with the Youth Pride Alliance Board to help implement Youth Pride Day, an event that drew over 1,200 participants last year.

The YAC serves as a model for youth engagement has been approved as an abstract for the Office of Adolescent Health and the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (OAH/ACYF) Second Annual Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Grantee Conference in March. Further, YAC coordinators are planning on making the YAC an evidence based program by incorporating formal evaluation tools and techniques throughout the year and in future cohorts.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
Sombo Pujeh
sombo.pujeh@dc.gov
www.ade.az.gov