Top-down policymaking approaches (expert-driven, excluding the end-user in the process) for at-risk youth in Baltimore City is one reason for the underuse of government-funded programs, i.e. the Summer Meals program which provides free food to youth workers.This is an unfortunate missed opportunity: more than 42% of West Baltimore youth live in poverty and within a ‘food desert.’ One method for improving this top-down approach, especially in the public health sector, is to include the end-user (i.e. youth) on teams with public health scientists and policymakers to co-create evidence-informed policies. While there is an interest in Baltimore City to do this, there remains little guidance for success.To fill this need, we describe a novel curriculum and research strategy, B’More Engaged Youth Leadership Program, on the competencies needed for at-risk youth, public health scientists, and policymakers to form collaborative, policymaking teams. This course focuses on developing ‘21st century skills,’ such as adapting to change, working in diverse groups, interacting professionally with others, communicating effectively, and managing time and goals. By the end of the course, the youth will co-create an evidence-informed policy recommendation with scientists and policymakers. The initial pilot study will enroll youth from The Food Project, an afterschool non-profit that provides nutrition- and skills-based programming as well as access to healthy foods. To best align with The Food Project, the pilot study curriculum and project focuses on food security in West Baltimore. In parallel, an exploratory case study will describe the experiences of the co-creation team using a series of strategies (observation, surveys, and interviews) and document activity engagement, 21st century skill development, and the best teaching practices for this team. The outcomes of this program will provide valuable insights into 21st century skill development, what activities are effective for this at-risk group in West Baltimore. This information could be of great value in restructuring future youth civic and science engagement programming in West Baltimore and similar communities around the globe.
The Effect Of Crossfit On Self-talk And Goal Setting In At-risk Youth: A Pilot Study.