University of Wisconsin–Madison ⋅ Medical College of Wisconsin
WMJ

What Aspects of Youth Programming Have Lasting Effects? Perspectives from Wisconsin PATCH Alumni

Tess I. Jewell, BA; Alexandra R. Sabgir, BS; Chelsea J. Aeschbach, MPH, CHES

WMJ. 2024;123(6):593-596.

Download full-text pdf.

ABSTRACT

Background: As clinicians and scholars continue to emphasize the importance of actively involving youth in the Maternal and Child Health workforce, this evaluation explores the programmatic elements of the Wisconsin-based Providers and Teens Communicating for Health (PATCH) Program that previous participants found impactful.

Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with program alumni. Qualitative thematic analysis utilized a combined deductive and inductive approach.

Results: Fourteen interviews were completed. Analysis revealed 6 key themes highlighting impactful elements of PATCH: education, employment and workforce development, sense of community and belonging, youth-driven programming, facilitating community connections, and youth-adult partnership.

Discussion: Multiple elements of PATCH have led to sustained positive health and development outcomes among program alumni, providing valuable insights for effectively engaging youth.

Author Affiliations: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin (Jewell, Sabgir); Providers and Teens Communicating for Health (PATCH) Program, Madison, Wisconsin (Aeschbach).
Corresponding Author: Tess I. Jewell, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 750 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705; email tjewell2@wisc.edu; ORCID ID 0000-0003-2845-5587
Funding/Support: This work was conducted as part of the PATCH Program’s ongoing evaluation and quality improvement efforts.
Financial Disclosures: Chelsea J. Aeschbach is employed as the Director of Impact and Evaluation for the Providers and Teens Communicating for Health (PATCH) Program.
Acknowledgements: The authors thank Erica Koepsel, PATCH Director of Youth Engagement, and the rest of the PATCH evaluation team for their support and guidance on this project.
Share WMJ