How We Arrived Here
Trailhead’s Vision for Evolving Colorado’s State of Adolescent Sexual Health Report
In 2021, Trailhead embarked on a process to reimagine the 2023 SASH report; honoring and releasing what came before and embracing a non-linear, iterative vision of what could be. Through flexible funding and partnership with the ReproCollab, Trailhead was given the space without restriction to explore and imagine how the SASH could evolve. We did not know nor try to specify what the outcome or end product would look like; a commitment that was at times both uncomfortable and exhilarating – a sign that we were deep in the process of trusting, learning and unlearning as we moved through it. What we did know was that we wanted young people's voices and experiences to be at the very center of how the field evolves and that we aimed to center anti-oppressive practices as we sought to rethink engagement and participation in the advisory board that has traditionally developed the recommendations for the report.
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As Trailhead began to map out plans for engaging a Youth Sexual Health Program Board and SASH development process, we quickly realized our own limitations and biases; recognizing that an investment in external support would be essential to disrupting historical processes of engagement in this work. We contracted with Consulting Within Your Context to hold us accountable and support us in intentionally centering an anti-oppressive framework into every aspect of the process, beginning with the development and recruitment of the Youth Sexual Program Board. Our Final Lessons Learned and Recruitment Process documents this process and the essential pivots that happened along the way alongside key considerations for all partners who are actively involved in community engagement. We share these lessons openly, and with transparency, to demonstrate that all are capable of embodying this approach. It is a journey that begins not from expertise, but from a commitment to learning, reimagining, and holding profound care for the health of our communities.
Throughout this journey, both as a program and as an organization, we have experienced deep joy, renewal and growth as we’ve learned what it really means to hold space for change. As you look at the SASH report and the beautiful expressions from youth through their artwork and statements on our website, we invite you to join us in acting on what is possible when we let go, to let emerge.
In partnership and with tremendous gratitude,
— Trailhead Institute
Lessons Learned
Trailhead’s Final Lessons Learned and Recruitment Process document shares the organization’s process for developing the 2023 SASH report and the essential pivots that happened along the way. The lessons learned and anti-oppressive practices utilized throughout this initiative are relevant for all partners who are actively involved in community engagement within the youth sexual health and public health fields. We share these lessons openly, and with transparency, in the hopes that organizations involved in community engagement may learn from this process, and to demonstrate that all are capable of embodying this approach.
The Lessons Learned and Recruitment Process document overviews:
Trailhead’s process for recruitment, including sample language used in outreach to prospective board members and limitations to recruitment.
Consulting Within Your Context’s process for hiring and engaging a Youth Facilitator to the Youth Sexual Health Program Board.
Barriers to recruitment, including barriers around compensation, IRS reporting policy, childcare support, and an incident of racial profiling at a local bank.
Utilizing “Touch Points” rather than monthly meetings to ensure accessible participation among Youth Sexual Health Program Board members.
The development of an expectations document for Trailhead to ensure bi-directional partnership, autonomy, and respect between Trailhead and the Youth Sexual Health Program Board.
Youth Sexual Health Program Board feedback summary.