Philly & Camden Youth Landscape Assessment

  • To be eligible to participate, you must be between the ages of 12-24 and live in Philadelphia or Camden.

  • Risks: 

    By design, participatory research is driven by the interests of the youth co-researchers, therefore the exact topics of the study may evolve over the course of the project. The landscape assessment may touch on some sensitive topics, such as discrimination and stressful environments or situations, that youth have experienced in their communities. Youth may take a break or skip parts of the research project for any reason. The principal investigator for this project is a social work professor, and will also provide youth with information about mental health and social service supports if needed. It is important to note that all adult researchers on this project are mandated reporters. The youth will be advised of this. Finally, if youth decide to collect information in their communities, there may be physical risks (such as heat or interacting with the general public). For any in-person data collection, youth will be accompanied by an adult researcher. Water will be provided if they do not have their own. 

    Benefits:

    By participating as a co-researcher in this project, youth will develop skills that can be used for academic and professional development. The results of this study may be used to help improve youth services, education, and advocacy in the Philly and Camden metro area. 

  • Youth will be asked to meet a minimum of five times over the course of 2-3 months. Youth will also collect data. The time commitment for that will be determined by you and your co-researchers. Youth will be compensated at least $325 if they complete all research activities.

The current funding and sociopolitical climate are affecting youth research, service, and youth's daily experience. Where resources are tight, the Youth Action & Research Network wants to allocate resources where they matter most, identify potential research and service gaps, and avoid duplication of efforts. This study will also illuminate systemic barriers and opportunities that may be unique to the region, which the Youth Action & Research Network can build research & advocacy programs around. Finally, we position youth as co-researchers to center their voices and experiences in identifying the important issues and experiences of youth in 2026.

Purpose of the Study:

The purpose of this study is to map out the needs, cultural dynamics, and systemic barriers facing youth in the Philadelphia and Camden metropolitan areas. The overarching research objectives are to identify research and service gaps, avoid duplication of effort, and design and implement targeted, impactful, community-engaged research and services. The information will inform the Youth Action & Research Network’s work. It is a network of youth studies scholars, service providers, and educators in the Philadelphia and Camden metropolitan areas.

What your young person would be doing in this project:

Youth will be co-researchers throughout the whole process. As a participant, the youth will co-design the study, help develop the research questions, create data collection tools, and collect and analyze data.

At a minimum, youth co-researchers will:

  • Attend a research ethics training (1-1.5 hours), online or in-person

  • Attend 2 co-design meetings (1-1.5 hours each), in person

  • Collect data according to the design chosen by your research group (over 2 weeks)

  • Attend 1 data analysis meeting (1-1.5 hours)

  • Attend 1 reflection & dissemination planning meeting (1-1.5 hours)

To Apply: Application will open in August 2026.

Questions: Contact Dr. Angie Malorni, angie.malorni@rutgers.edu