Hosting a Successful Youth Ambassador Program

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s Getting Candid: Framing the Conversation Around Youth Substance Use Prevention project supported youth-serving providers and organizations in their efforts to prevent youth substance use. In 2021, Getting Candid project staff recruited a group of youth ages 15-18 to inform the development and dissemination of the project’s resources. Over the three-year project, 16 youths provided insight into campaign direction, supporting material development and sharing their experiences as young people.

This resource distills lessons learned from the Getting Candid Youth Ambassador Program (YAP), including:

• Five steps to establish a YAP
• Examples of YAP activities and recommended frequency
• An example of a youth ambassador consent form