Nevada
Led by the Kenny Guinn Center for Policy and the Clark County Department of Social Service, this multi-sector, multi-organizational effort worked with youth to build a statewide youth engagement infrastructure and expand its capacity.
The effort will improve health outcomes for youth and increase their input in the decision-making processes that affect them. This project leveraged existing efforts among youth, social service agencies, nonprofits, and service providers in Nevada to build youth boards and improve social service systems (social determinants of health) that address the needs of youth (e.g., child welfare and juvenile justice).
The project seeks to strengthen civic-engagement infrastructure and capacity:
- Connect existing youth programs and service providers in Nevada and establish a formal network of youth leaders and advocates.
- Build stronger connections between service providers and youth end-users to improve specific health outcomes: (1) Decrease teen homelessness; (2) decrease teen suicide; (3) increase access to mental health services; and (4) decrease the rate of uninsured youth.
- Build youth leadership and advocacy capacity.
- Strengthen youth representation on existing public and private boards and projects, especially those that are related to health and/or social determinants of health.
Lead organization: Kenny Guinn Center for Policy Priorities
Partner(s): Clark County Department of Social Service, Clark County Departments of Family Services, Juvenile Justice and Social Service, Southern Nevada Homelessness Continuum of Care (SNH CoC), Northern Nevada Continuum of Care (NNCoc), Rural Nevada Continuum of Care (RNCoc), HELP of Southern Nevada, Nevada Homeless Alliance, Policy Council on Homelessness, Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY), Young Adults in Charge (YAC), Nevada Medical Center’s Millennium Youth Council, Silver State Equality, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children (SJRC), The Harbor, Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada, HOPE, Workforce Connections of Southern Nevada, Nevada Works (Reno), Nevada Minority Health and Equity Coalition, Nevada Office of Minority Health, Nevada State College, Truckee Meadows Community College, Great Basin College, Leaders in Training, People First of Nevada (self advocacy group run by individuals with developmental disabilities, ACTION (Northern Nevada), and Nye Community Coalition (rural community based organization).
From Public Agenda: Building Blocks to Support Youth Leadership in Nevada
