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Youth Engagement

Partnering with Young People to Advance their Health

We believe that healthy youth lead productive, healthy adult lives and positively impact the school-based health centers of their community. And, that young people hold the expertise about what their healthcare should look like.

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Youth Advisory Board

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Youth Healthcare Alliance launched our first-ever youth advisory board in fall 2023 with the recruitment of high school students. This board will serve as the opportunity for youth engagement in our work, namely in the following areas:

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Advocacy

Young people can make change in policy that impacts them. We plan to educate them on the state legislative process and connect them with the lawmakers who represent them. Our vision is to elevate the youth voice in the process about the very policies that impact them.

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Advancing School-Based Healthcare

As communities continue to support school-based healthcare or explore new ways of providing healthcare, we want to ensure that young people directly shape what this should look like for them.

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Strategic Planning
Youth Healthcare Alliance is committed to integrating youth voices in the structure of our organization. This vision includes providing meaningful opportunities for the Youth Advisory Board to guide projects, materials, and work. 

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Equity

As Youth Healthcare Alliance strives to continuously become a more equitable organization and support school-based clinics in doing the same, we need to listen and have tough conversations about what that looks like in young people’s minds.

Welcome to our Inaugural 2023-24 Youth Advisory Board members!

 

Aahana is a junior from Colorado Springs, and she joined because she says that it "would give me an outlet to discuss ideas I have with many talented, like-minded individuals, implement new campaigns for statewide impact, and enable me to use my leadership."

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Smrithi is a freshman from Lafayette who believes that "by being part of this community, I can make a positive impact on the lives of others and contribute to a greater cause."

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Sofia also from Lafayette is a sophomore and shares that "I would be able to connect and interact with peers who have similar interests as I do and we have the opportunity to help each other with issues relating to those interests."

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Maliya is a senior from Broomfield and says "I am very passionate about and interested in learning about health and advocacy. I would love to have a community and space to broaden and apply my knowledge."

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Makiya is a junior from Aurora. She says she is "curious on how I personally can make healthcare more available and more accessible to people. I want to help many families who do not trust in the medical field and no one should be deprived of their rights to healthcare."

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Suyash from Thornton is a junior and he has a "strong desire to advocate and provide insight on some of the toughest public health challenges currently faced within Colorado."

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Lakshmi from Lafayette is a junior and she says that this is an "opportunity for my personal growth and professional development, especially in gaining experience/knowledge in the healthcare field."

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Project REACH (Realizing Excellence through Academics and Careers in Health)

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Youth Healthcare Alliance is excited to partner with our national affiliate, School-Based Health Alliance, in continuing this project for a second year in 2023. Project REACH is a career exploration program for Black high school juniors and seniors at Gateway High School in Aurora interested in a future in health and wellness. Through workshops, shadowing, mentorship, and internships, students will build their knowledge of the school-based health care field, foster connections with health professionals, and enhance their agency and leadership potential.

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Want to know more about our youth engagement work?

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