Youth Participate in Youth Health Equity Showcase
Youth and communities are facing an evolving set of health issues, including vaping, mental wellness and health, traffic safety and driving, food security and nutrition, weight management and physical activity.
Since October, youth and their community coaches from across Nebraska have been investigating health issues in a project known as the Youth Health Equity Project which is jointly sponsored by Nebraska Extension, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Office of Health Disparities, and Nebraska Family Career Community Leaders of America. Over the last seven months, over 200 youth participated in the Youth Health Equity Project with guidance from 25 adult community coaches who nurtured and assisted the youth-led project.
On Monday, April 8th over 95 youth and their community coaches presented their health research projects during the Youth Health Equity Project Showcase at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. During the showcase, youth had an opportunity to interact with University of Nebraska- Lincoln faculty, administrators, and local community members about their projects. Youth also had the chance to speak with University of Nebraska- Lincoln admissions about college majors and the admission process.
Youth attending the showcase from Clarkson Public School were Sophie Morfeld, Kendall Schneider, and Rowan Stodola.
Their project was to analyze and address food insecurity in our community. The Clarkson Youth Health Equity Project sought information on food insecurity in our school and the community. There were families who expressed a need for food. We plan to help them and donate food to the community pantry to help people in the community. Thank you to everyone who participated in filling out the survey!
“The Youth Health Equity Project is an excellent example of how three different statewide agencies can come together to provide Nebraska youth a valuable learning experience about public health and local community needs and issues, This project taught youth about data sources, how to conduct research, and how to analyze the data to provide solutions which can improve individual and community well-being,” said Michelle Krehbiel, Youth Development Specialist and professor at UNL. Krehbiel led a team of educational, health, and research professionals that provided leadership for the development and implement of the project. Funding for the project came from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health, Office of Health Disparities.
More information about the Youth Health Equity Project can be found at: https://sites.google.com/nebext.org/youthhealthequity/home