National Health Outreach and Engagement Conference 2024

Berg, A., Ashley S., Bennet V., Brown C., Cook G., Crosson L., Daniel J., Hobbs K., Sheram C., Williams S.

The Well Connected Communities initiative, led by National 4-H Council and funded by the
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, was instrumental in spurring on the development of strong
community health coalitions that include both youth and adult leadership. These coalitions,
located in Calhoun, Colquitt, and Washington counties, are working to promote a culture of
health and create lasting health change in their rural communities. Extension Family and
Consumer Science Agents, 4-H Agents, and Agriculture and Natural Resources Agents worked
collaboratively to develop and maintain these coalitions and provide leadership for these
efforts. Although each community had some history of community health coalition work, the
introduction of youth as equal members was a new and energizing concept. The impact of youth
participation and leadership in these coalitions cannot be understated. Similarly, the holistic
nature of this partnership-oriented, community-driven work has resulted in numerous
unexpected opportunities and new connections for Extension and other community partners.
Outcomes of these efforts include novel youth-adult and community organization partnerships,
youth-led health interventions, Policy, Systems, and Environmental change strategy
implementation, a master volunteer program, and continued efforts for the future.