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Designing Youth-Informed Policy

This project explored opportunities to inform adolescent health policy through the use of qualitative texting messaging data.

Through strategic mapping of policy workflows, stakeholder interviews, and the creation of actionable tools, we provided MyVoice with a framework to effectively bring youth perspectives into local health decision-making.

MyVoice is an organization which uses an SMS platform to gather real-time opinions of youth across America. They seek to lift up the voices of today's youth to help create more youth-friendly policies and programs.

Overview

This initiative aimed to explore how MyVoice—a platform amplifying youth perspectives—could inform adolescent health policy and foster a coalition in Washtenaw County, Michigan. The project focused on creating tools that help translate MyVoice data into actionable insights, bridging the gap between youth experiences and local health policy.

Objectives

Our goal was to investigate the policy decision-making process and identify strategic points where MyVoice data could make the most impact. By understanding key stakeholders’ workflows and needs, we aimed to design a framework and one-page summary to position MyVoice as a trusted source of youth-centered insights for local health policymakers.

Methodology

We conducted 22 interviews with stakeholders, including community leaders, public health officials, policymakers, and University of Michigan representatives. To understand the dynamics of health policy decision-making, we used a conceptual model that helped participants reflect on their own processes and recognize opportunities for youth input. 

 

Our research uncovered several key insights:

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  • Youth Perception and Distance: Many policymakers view youth as “vulnerable” or “at a distance.” MyVoice could bridge this gap by amplifying direct youth perspectives, making their experiences and concerns visible and valuable for decision-making.

  • Agenda-Setting and Program Design: We identified agenda-setting and program design as critical stages where youth opinions could have the greatest impact, helping prioritize issues and highlight emerging health concerns.

  • Mapping Stakeholders and Processes: Activity mapping and stakeholder mapping revealed the importance of aligning MyVoice within the county’s political ecosystem, pinpointing where youth insights would be most useful.

Outcomes

Based on our findings, we developed two main tools to facilitate MyVoice’s integration into health policy:

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  1. MyVoice Strategic Policy Framework - This framework acts as an educational and strategic tool, guiding the MyVoice team on engaging policymakers and understanding the flow of knowledge in policy creation. It offers a foundation for integrating youth insights across different stages of government engagement.

  2. One-Page Data Summary - Designed to be both informational and actionable, this one-page summary translates youth perspectives into a format that supports decision-making. After 62 design iterations, it emerged as a clear, concise representation of youth opinions, tailored to spark conversation and negotiation among policymakers.

Results

The project fostered a stronger connection between MyVoice and local health policymakers. A new partnership with the Washtenaw County Community Mental Health Board has been established, facilitating ongoing data sharing and collaboration as the county addresses adolescent health disparities.

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