Inside Out Youth Services (IOYS) believes that young people have an integral role in informing, shaping, and delivering programming responsive to health and wellness. By providing agency for young people to develop and facilitate educational programs, we recenter youth voice within their own care. IOYS serves LGBTQIA2+ young people ages 13-24 in a variety of modalities to best meet youth where they are at. One of the ways we sought to achieve this was the development of the Peer Program Internship in 2025, including a Substance Use Prevention Intern. These interns have the opportunity to learn leadership qualities, actively participate in civic engagement, and facilitate youth-led programming. To measure the impact of programs, data is collected through Program Feedback Forms, and twice-annual Outcome Assessments measure the broader impact IOYS has had on young people in areas like healthy relationships, support systems, and substance use. Since then, IOYS has seen the highest growth scores in Outcome Assessment data among responses related to understanding substance misuse and increased awareness of where to find support. Higher rates of attendance and engagement are also observed when programs are facilitated by other young people. To us, we implement the theme of ‘Stronger Together’ every day in our work with young people. We encourage other practitioners to consider how including youth voice within public health processes sets a foundation for greater agency for young people navigating healthcare settings, especially for young people who face increased barriers to service.
