Engaging Youth Advocates in Community-Based Participatory Research on Child Farmworker Health in North Carolina

Background: Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSM) investigators and Student Action with Farmworkers' (SAF) Levante Leadership Institute, a farmworker youth program, are collaborating on a community-based participatory research (CBPR) study.

Objectives: 1) Describe the collaborative process between WFSM investigators and the Levante advisory board during the strategic planning and implementation phase and 2) highlight practices that support the collaboration and project success.

Methods: The longitudinal Hired Child Farmworker Study examines the health and safety of hired Latino child farm-workers in North Carolina. Two Levante alumni co- investigators lead research-related activities with the Levante advisory board.

Lessons Learned: Challenges to CBPR with youth are overcome by the longstanding partnership between WFSM and SAF, attention to logistical details, power sharing, building on shared values, and assessment of youth preferences.

Conclusions: The partnership between WFSM and Levante demonstrates the mutual benefit of CBPR and will continue during the upcoming study phases.