Listening to the voices of young people: Implications for working in diverse communities.

Listening to the voices of young people: Implications for working in diverse communities. Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2015 Nov;85(6 Suppl):S86-92 Authors: Cunningham M, Rious JB Abstract Comments on the implications for working in diverse communities. Too often, teenagers get a bad rap and are stereotyped as lazy, uninvolved in political and community issues, and too self-centered. However, most adolescents desire to be a part of social change, want to be involved in activities that engage their hearts and minds, and are actively involved in planning their respective futures. Challenging the disconnect between this negative perception and the lived reality of adolescents demands that we as researchers be willing to listen to their perspectives. Youth voices can be a powerful influence in how researchers, educators, and policymakers understand and serve this population. The purpose of this commentary is to offer guidance for incorporating the perspectives of adolescents in diverse communities, which we maintain is an essential component for authentic research. We define youth voice and provide a rationale for why incorporating youth voice, especially perspectives from underrepresented and marginalized communities, is essential for authentic research. We also acknowledge that there are challenges inherent in this type of research and provide specific suggestions for successfully integrating young people throughout the research process. Resea...
Source: The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Tags: Am J Orthopsychiatry Source Type: research