Project

MY (Minority Youth) Health Project

Project Description

The MY Health Project was a community-based research project to prevent health problems among minority youth. The project was a joint endeavor by health providers, researchers, and community members to test the effectiveness of youth involvement and community mobilization in changing norms and behaviors to prevent four major health problems facing adolescents: violence, adolescent pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and substance abuse. Youth were taught skills to reduce involvement in health compromising behavior, and to facilitate bonding and attachment with their family, peers, and the community at large. Adult community residents who have never been involved in community development were members of Community Action Boards who assessed neighborhoods for the four health issues, prioritized risk factors, and planned and implemented a community project to reduce risk while promoting involvement, bonding, and healthy beliefs and clear standards throughout their neighborhood.

The MY Health Project received a minority investigator supplement from NIH for Dr. Tracy Harachi to further understanding of the relationship between perceived ethnic identity, group orientation, and various health behaviors among adolescents and their parents.