Youth promotores--who are considered "community leaders"--face a number of special challenges.

First, there are the unique circumstances of their own lives. Most come from high-risk environments. All live in low-income or extremely low-income families. Many have experienced violence or, at the very least, disruption of family ties during immigration. Some come from families struggling with alcohol dependency and domestic violence. Most come from families where their parents' ability to provide support and supervision is affected by the long working hours necessary to make ends meet. Most of the parents have a hard time advocating for their children within U.S. institutions such as the school system because of limited language and cultural fluency. The youth promotores need support in dealing with these and other stressors in their daily life.

In addition, the youth face the challenge of having been identified as a "leader," a label that sometimes sets them apart from their communities. Adult staff leaders must both recognize and address these challenges. The LHA program provides this support to youth in two ways: through weekly meetings with a social worker and monthly meetings with a psychologist, herself an immigrant from Latin America; and by building a culture of trust and mutual support among the youth. Through this process, youth learn that staff--including the director--are available to them anytime they need help, whether after hours, on weekends, or during holidays.