Wisconsin PATCH: Engaging Youth in State-Based Adolescent Health Initiatives

Full Description: Since 2010, the PATCH® Program has been focused and steadfast in its commitment to improve adolescent health alongside and in true partnership with youth…because THEY are the experts. THEY are able to provide authentic insights into the concerns, ideas, and preferences of their generation.
While PATCH® is not new to the AMCHP audience, the program has since grown and evolved to better meet the needs of Wisconsin youth. By convening non-traditional partners (e.g., public health, care delivery, education, youth programming, academia, advocacy, businesses, and more!) for a common purpose, PATCH® now serves as a key community partner in helping the state better address adolescent health outcomes and public health goals via authentic youth engagement.
The Wisconsin PATCH® Collaborative was formed in July 2019 as a state-based community of practice that seeks to engage, educate, and empower youth and adults to partner for positive change. We are on a mission to expand upon existing efforts in Wisconsin – exploring and learning from a more deliberate statewide approach of authentically engaging youth in prevention, leadership, and advocacy.
By participating in this session, we expect that participants will: understand the history and evolution of the PATCH® Program in Wisconsin; be able to identify ways in which PATCH® has broken down silos in the public health system for the betterment of adolescent health; and be empowered to consider ways in which they can actively engage with youth and/or collaborate with others such as PATCH® to ensure youth voice is at the center of adolescent health initiatives.

Abbreviated Description: For 10+ years, the Providers and Teens Communicating for Health (PATCH®) Program has been focused and steadfast in its commitment to improving adolescent health alongside and in true partnership with youth. In this session, attendees will see a glimpse into PATCH’s, at present, approach and structure in Wisconsin for ensuring youth voice is elevated and heard in adolescent health initiatives, as well as the history and evolution that has gotten us to this point. We hope that together we can learn, grow, and share the various ways in which we, as Title V/MCH and public health folks, can continue to authentically and meaningfully engage youth in ever-changing times.