Developing a Model American Indian Intergenerational Youth Health Messenger Program to Promote Breast Cancer Screening

Abstract

This article details the development of an innovative, community-based intergenerational youth health messenger program in partnership with local youth which leverages intergenerational relationships within AI/AN families, training youth to deliver health messages to related adult women that encourage preventive health care, specifically breast health screenings. Youth health messengers convince women to attend to their own preventive health care by simultaneously communicating the importance of preventive screenings while utilizing the strength of their intergenerational relationships as both social capital and an inspirational motivator. Implications of the model and its approach for AI/AN women, the participating youth, and the larger community are discussed.