Department Resources

Partner Schools Daytime Program

Student Benefits Course Offerings Program Components Eligibility & Expectations FAQs Apply

group photo of six high school students outside in front of 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 through training activities that enable them to become certified Community Health Workers, become more aware of teen mental health challenges, and help reduce the use of opioids among their peer group. HPYAP also provides opportunities for students to become health professionals, while enhancing the educational and career experiences they need to build generational health throughout their communities.

The Partner Schools Daytime Program features Youth Ambassador instruction during the school day at the following FCPS locations:

Justice High School
John R. Lewis High School
Mount Vernon High School

Interested students who do not attend these three schools should read the details of the PHYAP Evening & Weekends Program.

Student Benefits

Depending on one's course of study and chosen 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 who successfully complete either the Mental Health or Community Health Worker classes. (One per student)

Course Offerings

All students who join the Youth Ambassador Daytime classes in our partner schools will begin with the High School and Young Adult Community Health Worker (CHW) program.

Upon successful completion of their CHW studies, students may apply to explore for additional terms curriculums, which allows them to enroll enrolling in either the High School and Young Adult Opioid Reduction Training program or Young Adult Mental Health Worker program.

Learn more about each program below:

PHYAP's High School and Young Adult Community Health Worker curriculum equips students with the knowledge to become the “health ambassadors” of their communities. Participants will receive training on core Community Health Worker subject matter, like: physical and mental health education, resource navigation, and infection prevention around vulnerable populations, among others. This curriculum also demonstrates how career opportunities in healthcare may intersect with interests in other highly desirable fields industries such as information technology, data management, transportation, climate change mitigation, and more.

The High School and Young Adult Opioid Reduction training program educates high school students about the dangers of opioid misuse. This program is designed to increase student awareness regarding the risks associated with drug abuse (and prescription pill misuse,) while reducing the stigma around addiction. Program lessons from these modules also stress the important role sound mental health practices play towards the prevention of addictive behaviors.

PHYAP's Young Adult Mental Health Worker training program features three learning components that are designed to foster sound mental health and well-being practices among youth populations:

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

Students will also learn strategies for handling mental health emergencies, while working collaboratively with each other on developing ideas that can drive community-based mental health initiatives.

Components the Program

Beyond the curriculum studies which happen in our Daytime Partner locations and Evening & Weekend classes, the Public Health Youth Ambassador Program includes student activities that take place in school, home, and community settings.

Community Health Project: Students must complete a required community health project in order to graduate from the program. In short, participants select a health issue that is relevant to them and make an actionable plan on how to address it in either a written presentation, PowerPoint, or agreed-upon format with their Facilitator.
Practicum: As another requirement, students are expected to complete a set number of practicum hours aligned with their course studies. This includes demonstrations and/or video presentations from the Fairfax County Health Department (and other trusted public health entities) that allow participants to 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, healthcare)	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

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?
What do you believe to be the most pressing health issue today? Why?

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.

When to Apply Now

The application window for the Fall 2025 session will be announced later this summer.

Need Some Help?

For further assistance with completing the application, please see the video guides below.

For students:

For parents:

Health Department

Health Department Alert: