Index The role of the adult allyHow change happens: a continuum of social changeCase studyReferencesPolicy and advocacy can be defined as active involvement in strategies and activities that influence decision makers and guide the public policies, laws and systems. The traditional sense of policy and advocacy is often seen as conducted through litigation, lobbying, and public education, but can also include capacity building, leadership development, networking, and relationship building. Adults are often seen as the driving force behind policy and advocacy work, while young people are often targeted for the creation and implementation of public health policies and programs. These interventions aim to create behavioral changes to reduce youth-related health problems such as tobacco and/or substance use problems, obesity, and even mental health issues. While some of these policies have proven to be effective in some areas, their effectiveness may be limited in terms of having an authentic voice for young people in developing relevant structural changes in civic and environmental environments. Involving young people in decision-making processes goes beyond token participation and superficial acceptance of their contribution. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The goal of youth-led prevention in Ohio is to empower young people to create change in the community. Youth-led programming supports the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes in young participants by engaging in the planning process to create change in the community. Once youth have identified a problem they want to focus on, including why it is occurring, they can select a prevention strategy to implement. Environmental strategies are a strategy, and policy and advocacy (the focus of this paper) is an activity within this strategy. Environmental strategies “seek to establish or modify standards or policies to reduce the incidence and prevalence of behavioral health problems in a population.” This change can happen anywhere from the school environments that young people attend or the communities in which they live directly (micro), to involvement in national and state-level initiatives (macro), and can include activities such as building youth/adult relationships, networking, leadership development, young people serving on boards and speaking publicly on topics relevant to them. When young people are included in the decision-making process and can make their voices heard on how to address problems, they engage as agents of change. This type of authentic youth involvement is less about the token inclusion of youth in adult affairs, but emphasizes “the meaning, control, and connection to thrive in an adult-youth partnership.” The benefits to the organisation, community and young people need to be taken into account from young people's political and advocacy participation: Involving young people encourages young people to become active members of the community who will be more likely to vote and be involved in the democratic process . Young people are given the opportunity to take on leadership roles and gain skills and practical experience that lead to more effective decision-making in the future. Giving young people control over decisions that affect their lives develops young people's ability to take chargeresponsibility for their own lives and their communities. The Role of the Adult Ally The overall goal of YLP is grounded in the Youth Empowerment Conceptual Framework (YECF). This framework is a valuable tool for youth-led programs and for the adults who facilitate these programs by identifying “individual, group, and community outcomes that can be anticipated by participating in group-empowerment settings.” The role of adult counselors, or allies, becomes critical in their approach to preparing young people to address political and advocacy roles and activities that integrally connect and impact the individual, group and community.results'. In preparing young people to engage in public policy, related tasks for adults involve educating and engaging young people in civic participation. Providing young people with opportunities to develop skills and experience by working on leadership and decision-making can increase young people's ability and confidence to participate actively. “Apprenticeships can help young people learn how to adapt methods or topics to state legislatures, newsrooms or school boards.” and further establish an equal partnership between adults and youth in running campaigns where a common agenda is developed. Adults can sit at the table with young people and encourage their participation. Another adult ally role is to support young people in building relationships with key policy makers. This is where young adult counselors can use their connections, skills and resources to recruit adult decision makers and engage them as youth prepare for specific projects. Cultivating these relationships can involve training and support for outside adults in understanding youth culture and involvement. Adults who move beyond the guiding role of advisors or allies to adults can benefit greatly from involving young people in decision-making in ways that involve developing their own knowledge, skills and attitudes: adults begin to see young people as collaborators and stereotypes are broken down. Adults' levels of commitment, attachment, and energy to an organization often increase when they gain the opportunity to work with youth. Adults gain a better understanding of young people; a new perspective; a bridge to other young people; enthusiasm, creativity, flexibility and proactivity. While youth participation in politics and advocacy can be defined as an environmental strategy, a comprehensive approach is essential on the path to achieving desired goals and outcomes. Preparing young people to authentically and purposefully engage in public policy requires education, involvement in networking and community engagement opportunities, reviewing data and identifying an issue to focus on and determining which policies to address, as well as advocacy practices. The table below is an example of how social change through public policy is addressed on a continuum and recognizes policy as part of a comprehensive, comprehensive approach. Furthermore, it shows that successful politics requires people operating at different levels. Every step in bringing about social change is important and creates avenues for young people to use their strengths to influence an issue of interest, or issue, that they are passionate about. How Change Happens: A Continuum of Social Change The case study below outlines multiple global prevention efforts, of which policy and advocacy is one on the path to impacting youth on an identified problem of.