Young people “speak the language” of their peers, making their voices essential in both the development and implementation of substance use prevention efforts. Engaging youth ensures that prevention strategies are relatable, relevant, and more likely to resonate with those they aim to support. In this webinar, panelists will explore practical ways to involve youth in prevention planning and share examples of how youth have been meaningfully engaged in rural community-based prevention initiatives.

Panelists from Oregon State University Extension Service in Malheur County will describe the process of using formative assessment to develop a youth mentoring program grounded in positive youth development principles. Panelists from Washington State University will share strategies for effectively involving young people in substance use prevention programming and discuss examples of youth-led projects, including a Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) initiative focused on opioid use disorder prevention. Panelists will also explore practical tools for identifying the type of youth engagement most appropriate for different settings, reflecting on lessons learned from the field.

Objectives:

• Recognize the importance of including the youth voice in rural prevention efforts.
• Describe the process of formative assessment in developing a youth mentoring program to prevent substance use/substance use disorders in youth.
• Identify youth engagement strategies to effectively involve young people in substance use prevention programming.
• Describe examples of youth engagement, including youth participatory action research in preventing opioid use disorder.