Engaging Rural Youth in Community Health Assessment: A Visioning Session Tool for Health Promotion Practice

Abstract

Community health assessments (CHAs) are a foundational component of public health planning and accreditation, yet youth are often underrepresented in these processes, particularly in rural communities. Excluding youth perspectives limits opportunities to understand community assets and needs that directly shape young people’s health and well-being. This article describes a low-cost, practice-based visioning session tool developed by a local health department to engage rural youth in the CHA process as part of routine public health practice. The visioning session tool uses creative expression through drawing and brief written reflection to support developmentally appropriate participation among youth across elementary, middle, and high school settings. Implemented through an existing health department–school partnership, the tool was designed to reduce common participation barriers related to literacy, transportation, and adult gatekeeping. Illustrative youth-identified perspectives aligned with key CHA priority areas, including mental health, access to healthy food, physical activity, inclusivity, and community resources, demonstrating the value of youth engagement in community health planning. We focus on the design, implementation, and practical considerations of the visioning session tool rather than on research outcomes. Ethical and partnership considerations relevant to practice-based engagement are discussed. Implications for health promotion practice and policy are presented, highlighting how this tool can be adapted by health departments and community partners to broaden participation among youth and other historically excluded populations in CHA processes, particularly in rural and resource-limited settings.