Department Resources

County-Wide Evening & Weekend Program for Any High School Age Student

Student Benefits Course Offerings Program Components Eligibility & Expectations FAQs Apply

group of diverse high school students, three girls and three boys, huddled outside an academic building Fairfax County Health Department’s Public Health Youth Ambassador Program (PHYAP) is a grant-funded program that provides free training to 10th through 12th grade students across Fairfax County. The program aims to increase diversity in the public health field by training participants to become certified Community Health Workers, address teen mental health challenges, and help reduce the use of opioids. The program provides opportunities for students to become health professionals and enhance participants’ educational and career experiences, giving them tools to build generational health throughout their community.

All eligible 10th - 12th graders across Fairfax County have the opportunity to become Public Health Youth Ambassadors through the county-wide Evening and Weekend program. Classes are held outside of school hours Monday through Thursday and Saturday at the Fairfax County Government Center.

Regardless of the type of schooling you receive (i.e., FCPS, Private, Faith-Based, Home-School, Charter, etc.), if you are interested in health-related topics and are looking to jumpstart your secondary school and career engagement in the community health field, the Public Health Youth Ambassador Program might be perfect for you.

Interested students who attend Justice, Lewis, or Mount Vernon High School should read the details of the PHYAP Partner Schools Daytime Program.

Student Benefits

Depending on chosen course of study and level of involvement, students have the opportunity to earn and enjoy a range of success-related outcomes that include:

Medical supplies and other resources that are needed to participate in the program,
A Chrome laptop*,
Certificates of completion from the Morehouse School of Medicine and the George Mason University College of Public Health,
Complimentary gift certificate,
Experience that can enhance one’s college applications, and
Opportunities to develop professional public health and workforce connections.

*Laptop distribution applies only to students in the Mental Health class.

Opioid Reduction

The High School and Young Adult Opioid Reduction training program educates high school students about the dangers of opioid misuse. The program is designed to increase student awareness regarding the risks associated with drug abuse and prescription pill misuse, while reducing the stigma associated with addiction. Lessons in this program also focus on sound mental health practices and the important role they play in preventing addictive behaviors.

Mental Health

The Young Adult Mental Health Worker training program features three components that foster sound mental health and well-being among youth populations:

the importance of mental health literacy,
an introduction to community-based mental health interventions, and
targeted mental health screening activities.

Students also learn strategies for handling mental health emergencies, while working collaboratively on developing ideas for community-based mental health initiatives.

Components of the Program

Our Public Health Youth Ambassador Program includes student activities that take place in class, at home, and in community settings.

Class Session: Classes are held at the Fairfax County Government Center. Sessions take place on Mondays through Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. During each training session, students discuss health issues across a range of topic areas, while completing curriculum learning from the Morehouse School of Medicine and the George Mason University College of Public Health.
Community Health Project: Students must complete a required community health project in order to graduate from the program. They will select a health issue that is relevant to them and make an actionable plan on how to address it.
Practicum: Students complete practicum hours aligned with their course studies, which includs demonstrations and video presentations from the Fairfax County Health Department and other trusted public health entities. Participants will gain first-hand knowledge about the different roles that are available within community and public health, along with the challenges that come about from living in a complex society.
At-Home Activities: Students will use the medical equipment and techniques learned in class to conduct mandatory “check-ups" with family members, friends and/or community members.

Eligibility and Expectations

Eligibility Criteria

While all 10th - 12th grade students are encouraged to apply, priority will be given to those who are:

Criteria by Cohort	Measurement
Represent community members most impacted by poor health outcomes	Resides in areas with high social vulnerability Premature death rates by race/ethnicity for county HHS - Office of Minority Health Disparity Impact Statement
Underrepresented in community health careers (public health, health care)	Health Workforce Diversity Index¹ HRSA Workforce Data² VA Healthcare Workforce Data Center³
Least likely to participate in post-secondary education	First in family to attend college Parents with limited English proficiency Represent populations with higher: Drop-out rates Chronic absenteeism Represent populations less likely to: Participate in Advanced Academic Programs Graduate on time Be enrolled in higher education 16 months after graduating
Students with disabilities	Covered under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Economically disadvantaged	Qualified for free/reduced lunch, SNAP, Medicaid, TANF
English language learners	School Data Census

Performance Expectations

Participants in the PHYAP program are expected to:

Have and maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher in core classes (GPA does not have to be cumulative)
Attend PHYAP activities
Are willing to pursue advanced coursework
Demonstrate leadership in school or community activities

¹Salsberg E, Richwine C, Westergaard S, et al. Estimation and Comparison of Current and Future Racial/Ethnic Representation in the US Health Care Workforce. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(3):e213789. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.3789

²https://data.hrsa.gov/topics/health-workforce/ahrf

³https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/PublicResources/HealthcareWorkforceDataCenter/Dashboards/

Apply to the Program

STEP 1: Preparing for the PHYAP Application

As part of the Student Interest application, students will be required to answer the following two essay questions:

Why do you want to become a Public Health Youth Ambassador and how will this experience impact your future goals?
How would you use your experiences and ideas to actively contribute to a classroom where everyone is expected to participate and learn together?

NOTE: This form must be completed in one sitting; applicants will not be able to save their progress and return later.

Students are encouraged to prepare their responses to these essay questions before starting the application.

STEP 2: Apply NOW

Evening & Weekend Program Application Form

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