KentucKy teen institute - University of Louisville

KTI at a Glance! > KTI is a year-round youth leadership initiative that kicks off in July with a fun and educational summer institute. > Youth teams share diverse health concerns from all regions of the state, then create and implement action plans relevant to their own communities. > KTI youth teams evaluate the impact of their projects with support from KTI staff and adults. > The KTI experience culminates with each team creating a presentation designed to inspire next summer’s participants and positively impact health policy on the local and state level by talking directly to elected officials and policymakers.

Apply now! The application process for the Who should apply?

2012 Kentucky Teen Institute is from March to May 2012. Download an application from http://louisville. edu/education/research/centers/health-research.html.

> Youth who are serious about making a change in their schools and communities; > Youth from diverse backgrounds who want to make Kentucky a healthier state; > Youth who show leadership qualities and desire further skill development; > Adults who would like to make a commitment to teens and their community;

For more information: Stacie Steinbock, M.Ed. Director Kentucky Teen Institute University of Louisville Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Sciences

> Adults who enjoy interacting with youth.

2206 South Brook St. Louisville KY, 40292

What happens at KTI?

[email protected] 502.795.6433

> Thought-provoking, interactive dialogue among professionals and teens that educate and motivate;

louisville.edu/education/kti/

> Engaging team-building activities among all participants;

First Annual

Kentucky Teen Institute July 15-18, 2012 University of Louisville

Sponsored by the Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Science Research College of Education and Human Development University of Louisville

> Dynamic action planning among team members; > Building relationships with teens and adults from all over the state; > Creative, fun, and often, hilarious recreational activities! The University of Louisville is an equal opportunity institution. This publication was prepared by the University of Louisville and printed with state funds. KRS 57.375. 214281 — 3/12

What is the Kentucky Teen Institute?

Vision: To improve the health of Kentucky youth through youth-designed initiatives, leadership training, and supportive adult partnerships. Mission: To honor the unique role youth play in their schools and communities as leaders and activists for healthier choices and environments. Kentucky Teen Institute (KTI) encourages youth to identify the challenges they and their peers face in today’s world. KTI offers a platform for youth to generate peer-awareness and create positive change by helping them develop the skills, knowledge, and attitudes they need to make healthy choices, build positive relationships, and contribute to their schools and communities in positive ways.

Objectives: > To empower youth to play a key role in identifying teen challenges and creating effective strategies to address them; > Increase awareness of personal resiliency skills (skills that help maintain a healthy lifestyle); > Decrease risk-taking behaviors (drug and alcohol use, unsafe sex, bullying, etc.); > Develop effective health promotion skills for peer education; and > Increase capacity and skills for leadership in their community around issues of risk prevention and health promotion.

The Kentucky Teen Institute is a four-day camp providing a dynamic educational experience by bringing together teens from all over the state of Kentucky. During this time, youth will share the challenges they and their peers face, generate ideas and solutions with support from adult support staff, and create team action plans to implement in their schools and communities. KTI uses a variety of leadership and youth development training styles including workshops, seminars, and activities. The National Teen Institute model also encourages having fun through creative expression while building new relationships. Participants will stay on the vibrant University of Louisville campus in dorms with their adult Advisors on each floor. Food is provided by the University and also cooked by participants in healthy cooking workshops. Leaders of the Institute are students and staff from the University of Louisville’s Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Science, a center within the College of Education and Human Development’s award-winning Health and Sport Sciences Department. A nurse is also on staff at all times.

What are Team Action Plans? With statewide professionals and national leaders in health promotion and wellness programs, teens will learn best practices in health promotion strategies. Each regional team, comprised of adults and teens, will identify a pressing adolescent health concern in their school or community. The team will then creatively develop a Team Action Plan that addresses the health concern. Over the next school year they will implement this plan with support from their adult advisor, Kentucky Teen Institute staff, and other KTI participants from across the state. Ongoing evaluations will be shared through regular online meetings and at a two-day KTI Winter Retreat. The culmination of these efforts will be a creative presentation that will be shared with the next generation of KTI summer camp participants.