Young people under the age of 23 constitute nearly a third of the U.S. population, yet their immense power as agents of societal change is often overlooked. Historically, youth have been pivotal in driving significant changes in our country, yet are often sidelined by adults and institutions, being labeled as “leaders of tomorrow” rather than impactful change-makers of today. 

At Community Catalyst, we believe that in order to build a stronger and more united movement for health justice, there must be space for youth leadership. That’s especially true when it comes to the work of building a behavioral health system that is accessible to all. Young people with lived experiences of mental health and substance use challenges should be shaping the future of these services, since they understand what’s not working in the current system and what needs to change.  

Two images are displayed in a spiral notebook. Left image features a mix of young people and adults speaking in front of a school. Right image features one person wears a mask in a crowd of young people at a protest holds a sign that reads "We repeat what we don't repair."
Introduction

About this Toolkit

In this toolkit, you will find resources that will help you engage youth in health justice advocacy. To ensure that young people have a voice in shaping the policy changes we fight for, Community Catalyst currently partners with a Youth Advisory Board, whose members are youth between the ages of 16 and 23, as well as Youth Policy Consultants. The Youth Advisory Board and Youth Policy Consultants created the following toolkit to encourage and educate youth and adults alike on how to engage young people in advocacy.

By involving youth in the process, advocates not only develop more efficient answers but get youth involved and doing the work! Including young people ensures that solutions are by youth, for youth, and inspire youth.

Community Catalyst’s partnership with the Youth Advisory Board is one example of our organization’s larger commitment to unleashing the power of community-first public health. No matter who or what age you are or where you live, the “public” should be at the center of public health. 

A young person speaks in front of a shelf of books. He is wearing a plaid shirt and is standing in front of a light brown wall
Community Catalyst Youth Advisory Board Member Javion Peterson discusses the importance of youth advocacy in the fight for health justice.

Learn more about the Youth Advisory Board and Youth Policy Consultants here!  

Youth Power Building and Organizing Presentation

Youth Power Building and Organizing in the Health Justice Movement 

Youth power building and organizing are essential components of the health justice movement and enable young people to actively contribute to sustainable change, confront systemic health disparities, and advocate for equitable access to healthcare.  

At Community Catalyst’s 2023 Annual Convening, we joyfully welcomed Youth Policy Consultants to lead a workshop focused on empowering and mobilizing young individuals and their allies within the health justice movement. By delving into the significance of youth power building and organizing, this workshop provides first-hand experiences, practical strategies, and tools for centering youth voice in power building and advocacy efforts.  

At the 2023 Community Catalyst Convening, we affirmed that youth power building is a key element of organizing in the health justice movement. Develop a comprehensive understanding of the health justice movement and recognize the power of including youth in driving positive change by watching their session.
Session Resources:
Hear the Voices of Youth & Join the Conversation 
A group of young people and adults sit in wooden chairs and have a roundtable discussion at a school. In the foreground are two kids smiling at a phone screen.

Hear the Voices of Youth & Share Your Story

One of the best ways to relay to others the need for policy and systems changes is to share the personal stories and perspectives of those most impacted by health care disparities. At the core of youth power building is helping youth find their voice and giving them an outlet to use it.  

Here are some video reflections from members of Community Catalyst’s Youth Advisory Board and Youth Policy Consultants about what it means for adults to support young people and their mental health.  

If you are a young person who wants to join the conversation, please visit our Soapboxx page and record your story!   

Policy Recommendations from Youth Advocates

Policy Recommendations from Youth Advocates 

The issues of substance use disorder and mental health are at the core of the Community Catalyst Youth Advisory Boards’ and Youth Policy Consultants’ work. These young people not only bring their own lived experience to their advocacy, but also take time to review additional materials to educate themselves and their peers on trends and needs currently facing young people. Here are additional reading materials, compiled as helpful information. 

Resources

Substance Use Disorders

Substance use disorder affects millions of people in the US. Yet, only a fraction of people receive the treatment and support services they need to live healthier lives. As a result of racism and other forms of discrimination, this is especially true for Black, Brown LGBTQ+ and other systemically-excluded communities. As part of our health justice work, Community Catalyst is creating durable, cross-movement connections between advocates for health care, criminal justice, harm reduction, mental health, and substance use disorders.

Learn more here

Substance Use Disorders & Justice-Involved Populations

Substance use disorders are a health issue, not a criminal issue. Community Catalyst’s Substance Use Disorders and Justice-Involved Populations program works to change this. Drawing on insights from people with lived experience of substance use disorders and working side-by-side with state and community-based organizations and alliances, we are building community power that reorients society’s misguided approach to alcohol and drug use through policies and practices that center race equity and justice and ensure everyone gets the services they need to live healthier lives.

Learn more here

New Guidance Encourages States to Better Address Children and Youth’s Access to Mental and Behavioral Health Services

Recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released a joint informational bulletin, Guidance to States and School Systems on Addressing Mental Health and Substance Use Issues in Schools. This informational bulletin is an important step toward ensuring more children and youth are able to access needed care and is particularly timely given the concerning prevalence of mental health and substance use problems among young people.

Learn more here

Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Mental Health Teach-In Toolkit

In collaboration with the Partnership for Southern Equity YES! for Equity program, this toolkit offers information on how to organize a teach-in for educating and awakening Americans to the urgency of the mental health crisis. Teach-ins are an important tactic for personally engaging people, and building an effective, responsive movement. YES! for Equity is a national training and movement-building force built on the belief that racial equity and intergenerational power-sharing are essential to creating community change. YES! for Equity believes that the collective power of youth and adult allies to achieve the change we seek in the world depends on recognizing the history of structural racism that exists in the United States.

Learn more here
Contact Community Catalyst

Contact Community Catalyst

If you are interested in learning more about youth power building and organizing in the health justice movement, please contact India Hayes Larrier.