Developing capacities of youth as lay health advisors: a case study with high school students

Youth lay health advising, a form of support or helping, is an important potential resource for preventive intervention. This article describes a case study of a youth lay health advising program designed to provide high school students with support and guidance to handle challenges and concerns related to their health and quality of life. First, the planning, program development, and implementation of the approach are described. Second, a rapid formative evaluation presents quantitative and qualitative information on adolescent issues faced, the types and content of interactions, and peer helper satisfaction with the program. Third, the strengths and challenges of the peer helping program and the role of youth as lay health advisors are discussed. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications for practitioners on this approach to building the capacity of adolescents as lay advisors for community health.