Young Women Choosing Action
Through participation in this program, young women who have had varying experiences with trauma, stress, and structural oppressions will develop leadership skills, expand their understanding of their physical and emotional responses to trauma, cultivate a practice of personal well-being, and build their capacity as leaders. Young women will learn how healthy decision-making, self-advocacy, and self-regulation support effective leadership.
Participants in Young Women Choosing Action will learn and practice real-world leadership skills by working together to identify and address an authentic community need. Mindfulness-based somatic exercises, such as yoga and breathing activities, will support their leadership efforts and personal empowerment. Ultimately, young women who complete the program will be empowered to effectively employ choice, mindfulness, and leadership strategies in a wide variety of life situations.

Resources
- White Paper
- Curriculum
- Facilitator Training Guide: The importance of well-prepared, highly trained, approachable facilitators cannot be overstated when it comes to the success of a youth program. The Young Women Choosing Action curriculum is accompanied by an accessible and in-depth training guide that provides relevant information for facilitating an intersectional, trauma-informed leadership program. The Facilitator Training Guide also includes links and references to additional information for further exploration of the curriculum’s foundations and for use in program planning.
The Young Women Choosing Action program is a result of a three-year collaborative partnership between YWCA USA and Centene, a diversified healthcare enterprise ranked on the Forbes Global 2000 List. Centene primarily serves low-income and underinsured individuals in the U.S., and understands the need for community-based solutions that address non-medical barriers to health and wellness.
