In 2012, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) hired two young people as part of its Youth and Young Adult Unit in an effort to further integrate a positive youth development approach into their programs and initiatives. At the department, the youth advisors work 20 hours per week providing the youth perspective through partnership in decision-making and guidance on current programs and initiatives, including youth sexual health and youth-systems building for the Maternal and Child Health Program. In addition, they engage diverse youth from across Colorado to obtain feedback on projects related to the department and its partners for ongoing quality improvement.
