Youth Empowerment as a Tool for Community Change: A Program Plan and Evaluation Plan for Youth Empowered Solutions (YES!)

Youth Empowered Solutions (YES!) is a non-profit organization established on the premise that youth can serve a unique role in their communities as advocates for positive change both on the community and policy level. YES! was formed after the significant success of an organization that proceeded it, Question Why (?Y), which challenges youth to speak out against tobacco use in their communities. Founders of Question Why observed youth taking initiative in their communities on issues that were important to them, and saw downstream positive effects mounting. The youth involved in Question Why became more confident, more informed, and more excited to be involved in change. In short, they were empowered by acting towards a cause in which they believed. Under this premise, YES! was founded and has its primary office in Durham, North Carolina. Previous funding from Question Why has kept YES! afloat thus far, but YES! is now establishing itself as a free-standing, self-sufficient non-profit This program plan will serve as a tool for re-enforcing the foundation of YES!, as well as making an evaluation plan to facilitate future fund procurement. First, through a mini-literature review, I will make a case for why there is a niche to be filled by unique programs like YES! Next, the program plan section will provide many of the details for the planning process and implementation for YES!, including an explanation of how the youth empowerment theory influences YES!. I will include a description of the program context, resources, funding and the socio-political environment surrounding the idea and implementation of youth empowerment programs in communities. I will also outline the goals and short- and long-term objectives of the plan for YES! An evaluation plan is also provided. The initial evaluation of YES! will assess the extent to which the short term goals and objectives of the program plan have been met while also exploring if and how these were met, specifically during the planning process and program implementation phase. A logic model will presented with. Inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes evaluated.Master of Public Healt