Children as Agents of Change: Parent Perceptions of Child-Driven Environmental Health Communication in the Apsáalooke (Crow Indian) Community

Authors

Jessica Milakovich, Montana State University - BozemanFollow
Vanessa W. Simonds, Montana State University - BozemanFollow
Frances L. Kim, Montana State University - BozemanFollow
Deborah LaVeaux, Montana State University - BozemanFollow
Velma Pickett, Little Big Horn CollegeFollow
Suzanne Held, Montana State University - BozemanFollow
Christine Martin, Little Big Horn CollegeFollow
Jason Cummins, Crow Agency Public SchoolFollow
Lynn Kelting-Gibson, Montana State University - BozemanFollow

Keywords

American Indian; parent-child communication; environmental health; agent of change model

Disciplines

Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Public Health | Public Health Education and Promotion

Abstract

While previous research suggests children have successfully acted as health change agents, no studies have examined the role of children in promoting environmental health knowledge and awareness. This study describes parent perceptions of the impact of a five-day water-focused environmental health summer camp on elementary school children in an American Indian community. We interviewed parents about their perception of changes in their child's environmental health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Parents in this study confirmed that their child had shared information related to the camp activities. In addition, parents perceived that their children had increased knowledge and positive changes in attitudes and behaviors related to environmental health. We recommend programs promoting children as change agents develop and use materials for parents that facilitate bidirectional communication with youth so to not place the onus wholly on the child. Our study highlights parental perceptions of the ways the voices and actions of children have the potential to be valuable assets in addressing environmental-related health disparities.

Recommended Citation

Milakovich, Jessica; Simonds, Vanessa W.; Kim, Frances L.; LaVeaux, Deborah; Pickett, Velma; Held, Suzanne; Martin, Christine; Cummins, Jason; and Kelting-Gibson, Lynn (2018) "Children as Agents of Change: Parent Perceptions of Child-Driven Environmental Health Communication in the Apsáalooke (Crow Indian) Community," Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice: Vol. 11: Iss. 3, Article 8.
Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/jhdrp/vol11/iss3/8