The toolkit draws upon the Indiana Youth Advisory Board (IYAB) initiative, launched in June 2022 through a collaboration between the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA). It chronicles how the IYAB evolved from its inaugural cohort of 45 youth (ages 14–24) to a second cohort with 60 new members plus 6 returning leaders, emphasizing that members are paid, youth-led contributors involved in critical state-level health discussions. The toolkit is meant to be a replicable model for other jurisdictions seeking meaningful youth engagement in public health..
This toolkit provides a replicable blueprint for engaging young people as paid, decision-making partners in public health. It supports equity in youth participation, strengthens program legitimacy, and offers a tangible method to amplify adolescent voices in policy-making a critical step toward inclusive and responsive health systems.
Key Themes
Youth-Led & Paid Participation
Youth are employed as board members, ensuring they lead—not just participate—in key state health conversations and initiatives.Scaling Through Recruitment & Leadership Continuity
Indiana’s recruitment process expanded from 229 applicants (45 selected) in 2022 to 540 applicants (60 new + 6 returning) in 2024, illustrating growing interest and institutionalization.Grounding in Evidence-Based Frameworks
The IYAB is informed by Hart’s Ladder of Youth Participation, promoting agency and leadership rather than token representation.Capacity Building & Leveraging State Partnerships
The board is an inter-agency effort (IDOH & DMHA), supported through grant funding and adult mentorship, enhancing both structural capacity and sustainability.Lessons for Replication
The toolkit offers practical guidance—covering recruitment, onboarding, adult-youth dynamics, pay structures, meetings, and stakeholder engagement—for other agencies looking to replicate Indiana’s model.
