Elevating Youth Voices Initiative
Started in 2023, the purpose of the Elevating Youth Voices workgroup is to provide an opportunity for youth to create the change they wish to see in their community. This is done by creating a collaborative space for youth to take action to make the changes they want to see happen in their community.
Background
In the Spring of 2023, Youth MOVE Suncoast partnered with Dr. Margaret McGladrey and the USF lab to execute the Photovoice Project, where youth and young adults used photography to capture how the community supports or neglects mental health.
Realizing the diversity of issues faced, Youth MOVE Suncoast, working with Nathan Scott, began connecting and curating supportive relationships with local organizations. This led to the creation of Elevating Youth Voices, a group of youth representatives working together to address community issues from their perspectives in a way that is supported by local organizations.
Timeline
January, 2024: Pitching of Elevating Youth Voices to youth-serving organizations in Sarasota
May 2024: Pitching of youth-devleoped strategic plans to the Department of Health
August 2024: Pitching of the Elevating Youth Voices model to the National Training and Technical Assistance Center
September 2024: Pitching to
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The Florida Behavioral Health Stakeholders Consortium
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The Regional C12 Council
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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's First Youth Summit
Elevating Youth Voices Strategic Plans Overview
Promote Mental Health
Our youth reps want to see: Young people and community partners take the time to get educated, engage with, and apply mental health knowledge to themselves and others to create long-term wellness.
Establish Work/School-Life Balance
Our youth reps want to see: Young people engage with a work/school culture that prioritizes their wellbeing by meeting their basics needs, having time for relationships and outside hobbies.
Increase Engagement
Our youth reps want to see: Young people become confidently engaging and committed to organizations, missions, and passions that is fueled by the interest and vision they see for the community.
Pitch at the Department of Health
Elevating Youth Voices representatives presented the three strategic plans at the Department of Health to over 20 local organizations, and successfully received buy-ins from organization representatives
Pitch at the National Training & Technical Assistance Center (NTTAC)
Youth MOVE representatives were invited to present the Elevating Youth Voices model at the Youth / Young Adult Support Space (YYASS), hosted by the National Training & Technical Assistance Center.
Advocacy organizations attending YYASS will adopt this model to their own communities and carry out their own version of Elevating Youth Voices to start community change from youth perspectives.
Pitch at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Xinyi, a Youth MOVE Representative, presented about Photovoice and Elevating Youth Voices at the first youth summit hosted by SAMHSA, a branch under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as a member of SAMHSA's summit Youth Planning Team.
Elevating Youth Voices Pitch at the C12 Regional Council (Central Florida Behavioral Health Network, Inc)
Xinyi and Jordan pitched the three strategic plans to mental health and substance abuse community partners from Charlotte, Collier, Desoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota counties.
Elevating Youth Voices Pitch at the Florida Behavioral Health Stakeholders Consortium
Jordan and Xinyi pitched the three strategic plans to over 60 Florida Behavioral Health partners at the consortium meeting, and received buy-ins and interest from these representatives in furthering Elevating Youth Voices' initiative in the community.
In Attendance:
Presentation:
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Behavioral health service providers
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Law enforcement
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The court system
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The Department of Children and Families
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School Board
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Consumers of behavioral health services
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Local hospitals
Meeting Agenda:
Elevating Youth Voices Outcome on Participating Youth
Before Elevating Youth Voices:
After Elevating Youth Voices:
What did you get out of this experience of participating in Elevating Youth Voices?
“I was able to identify the roots of issues in our community and work with others to develop solutions.”
“I am really happy with what I get to take away from this experience and I appreciate all the effort contributed to make this possible in our community.”
What did you get out of this experience of participating in Elevating Youth Voices?
“I was able to learn from and get to know new people who shared similar interests as me and want to make a difference and goals for youth in our community.”