Youth in Action

About the Program

Youth in Action is an initiative led by Touro University-California, with IHLA providing data analysis and program evaluation guidance. The program engages young individuals in the California Bay Area, equipping them with leadership skills, public health awareness, and research-driven experiences to drive meaningful change. The Youth in Action program at Touro University – California uses a Youth Participatory Action Research approach to address prioritized health issues in a school-based environment. 

Watch the short clip below to learn first-hand about the program from one of the program’s peer health promoters. 

---

---

By analyzing data and evaluating program outcomes, IHLA supports the Youth in Action program ensuring its effectiveness in cultivating future leaders. Through evidence-based evaluation, we help optimize the program’s impact on public health and community engagement.

As part of our commitment to data-driven decision-making, we have presented multiple research abstracts on Youth in Action at leading public health conferences. These presentations highlight key findings, program impact, and areas for improvement. Our work has been showcased at:

• American Public Health Association, 2024
  • Youth in action for health equity: Perception, experience, and impact of violence in high school.
  • Youth in action for health equity: Knowledge of available sexual health resources among male and female high school students
• American Public Health Association, 2023
  • Youth in action for health equity: Empowerment and resiliency programs address disparities in low-income schools
  • Youth in action for health equity: Mental health well-being among high school students, females vs. males
  • Youth in action (YIA): A pathway to student leadership
• American Public Health Association, 2022
  • Youth in Action for Health Equity: Peer Health Promoters as Change Agents
• American Public Health Association, 2020
  • Youth in Action for Health project: Peer health promoters making a difference.
  • Youth in action for health project: An assessment of food insecurity among ethnically diverse high school students 
  • Youth in action for health project: Association between mental health and exposure to violence
• American Public Health Association, 2019
  • Public Health Inquiry & Youth Participatory Action Research in a High School Biomedical Academy: An approach to foster positive youth development and resiliency.
  • Public Health Inquiry & Youth Participatory Action Research in a High School Biomedical Academy: Association Between Perception of Harm Related to Substance Use/Abuse and Public Health Knowledge

These presentations contribute to the broader academic and professional discourse on youth engagement in public health, further enhancing the Youth in Action program’s effectiveness.

---

Contact Us

Collaborate with us to make a difference! IHLA team members have extensive experience in developing and implementing program evaluation plans that meet the needs of community-based organizations. Reach out to our team today for planning and implementing formative, outcome, or impact evaluations of a diverse range of education, health, and human service programs. 

Last updated: 3/9/2025