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Violence Prevention
National City Youth Lead Community Health Efforts
 ocated in south San Diego County, National City has the highest violent crime rate in the county, much of it drug-related. It is estimated that 12 gangs operate in this area, and more than 500 young people under 25 years of age have been identified as gang members. It is the second poorest city in the state, and the local high school has the highest dropout rate in its district.
 To address these community health concerns and effect policy change, Paradise Valley Hospital established its Partners for Prevention (PFP) coalition in 1991 with the convening of neighborhood residents, law enforcement and social service providers. More recently, it has brought youth into the fold.
“The youths’ involvement has given our coalition an authentic youth policy voice,” said Yenni Lamas, PFP prevention specialist and project coordinator.
In June 2003, TCWF awarded Paradise Valley Hospital a three-year, $50,000 grant to continue the PFP coalition, which provides youth leadership development and advocacy activities to reduce violence against youth in National City.
“Because youth are the ones most directly affected by gang violence and alcohol and drug abuse, they are often capable of offering the best solutions to these critical public health concerns,” said Nicole J. Jones, TCWF program director. “By training them to be leaders and advocates, they can work with other community stakeholders to improve the health and safety of their community.”
PFP develops youth leadership and advocacy capacities though its Youth Leadership Team (YLT), an after-school program that meets weekly to discuss issues affecting schools and the community. Students meet with their peers and faculty to discuss problems and develop solutions, such as public policy advocacy or presentations to peer groups.
All students are welcome to attend YLT meetings, which use curricula that cover various conflict resolution styles, communication skills, perceptions, peer-to-peer mediation processes, and political advocacy tactics such as developing policy sheets, diplomacy and garnering broad-based support.
One of the youth leaders’ major accomplishments has been their role in defeating a City Council initiative that would have allowed many alcohol-serving businesses to be located within 660 feet of school sites. Concerned about potential harms and hazards to public safety, students honed their media advocacy skills and organized a coalition of school representatives, prevention providers, students, parents and community residents to present their concern at a City Council meeting.
Due to the high level of community involvement, the City Council delayed their vote, held special meetings to listen to community concerns, and came up with a compromise policy decision based on recommendations by YLT students.
The YLT has also been successful in presenting information from a peer-to-peer perspective with various youth summits. These interactive forums have covered health issues such as gang violence, teen relationship violence, conflict resolution, and alcohol and other drugs.
“The YLT has mobilized many parents to get engaged at their local city council meetings,” said PFP’s Lamas. “They have been a great addition.”
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