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YOUTH PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH

HOW DID CROP+TR IMPLEMENT PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH?

     Between 2020 - 2021, CROP+TR facilitated a 4-H YPAR curriculum for teens focused on the opioid epidemic. Content included the basic science of opioid drugs, risks for opioid misuse, health consequences of opioid misuse, and evidence-based interventions for prevention, treatment, and recovery from opioid use disorder. WSU faculty in extension, human development, and the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine collaborated alongside WSU County Extension staff and Faculty and local community partners to implement this curriculum.

Professor & Students

     Youth who participated in CROP+TR 4-H YPAR learned about the content areas described above, conducted a relevant needs assessment, and formulated and implemented a plan for improving prevention, treatment, or recovery in their communities. 

WHAT IS PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH?

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Youth Advocates for Health (YA4-H!) is a positive youth development program in the WSU Extension Youth and Family Unit. YA4-H! develops teens as leaders and advocates for 

health within their communities. This program is led by Dr. Elizabeth Weybright in collaboration with county Extension faculty across the state. One element of YA4-H! is youth participatory action research. 

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Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) is a process designed for teens ages 14-18. The goal of YPAR is to engage teens in a research process learning about a health issue facing their community. This is accomplished through a partnership with other teens and trained adult mentors or WSU staff and faculty. The outcome is the development and implementation of a youth-led health promotion project. Participation in YPAR is associated with positive outcomes including increased youth civic engagement and empowerment. 

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MEET THE CROP+TR YPAR TEAM!

Jennifer Fees, MEd

4-H Nutrition & Healthy Living Educator

Washington State University Spokane County Extension

Melanie Greer, MA

4-H Program Coordinator

Washington State University Clallam County Extension

Alison White, MEd

Associate Professor, 4-H Youth Development

Washington State University Yakima County & Kittitas County Extension

Elizabeth Weybright, PhD

Associate Professor, Human Development & Adolescent Extension Specialist

Washington State University Human Development

HOW CAN I LEARN MORE?

     If you have questions about the CROP+TR 4-H YPAR curriculum, please contact research coordinator Kate Hampilos at katherine.hampilos@wsu.edu.

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