LIFT = LEAD * INSPIRE * FLOURISH * THRIVE

One of TRY's greatest accomplishments, representing a groundbreaking multi-layered prevention approach that applies what we learned about the socioecological model of health at every level. At the individual level, both youth and adult health ambassadors receive intensive training in health literacy, communication skills, and evidence-based prevention strategies, building their personal capacity while positioning them as trusted messengers within their communities. The peer-to-peer model leverages the power of social relationships and shared experiences at the interpersonal level, with youth ambassadors connecting authentically with other young people while adult ambassadors engage community members as trusted neighbors and role models, creating natural pathways for behavior change through social influence. At the community level, ambassadors serve as vital bridges between formal health systems and community networks, identifying local health priorities, cultural barriers, and community assets to co-design culturally responsive interventions that resonate with residents' lived experiences. The program's societal impact organically creates a grassroots movement for substance prevention through the seven strategies for community change and health equity by training community members to advocate for policy changes, without lobbying, to challenge harmful social norms, and to address structural barriers that impact health outcomes.

The transformative power of this approach is evident in the voices of community members themselves:

Youth Health Ambassadors are trained peer leaders who leverage authentic relationships and shared experiences to influence positive health behaviors among their age group. They serve as trusted sources of accurate information, helping peers resist negative influences and make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.

"Before I became a health ambassador, I used to just do whatever my friends wanted to do. I didn't want them to think I was weird or boring. Now I feel confident speaking up when I know something isn't safe or right. My friends actually listen to me because they know I have the real facts, not just stuff from TikTok or Instagram. I'm not scared to say no anymore, and it feels really good to help my friends make better choices too. Sometimes other kids even come ask me questions because they trust me to tell them the truth." - Youth Health Ambassador