Warren County health intern presents youth summit findings; recommends youth advisory group

Macy Smith, an intern working with the county, summarized findings from the county's second annual youth summit on July 13, saying roughly 20 young people ages 13 to 21 took part and discussed community needs including substance use, mental health and job opportunities.

"We just kinda wanted to go over some of our findings and talk about, you know, what the whole event its purpose was," Macy Smith said. She told commissioners the summit split participants into age groups and asked 10 questions about community needs; staff gave participants 15 minutes per question and provided breaks and lunch.

Smith said substance use — particularly vaping and nicotine — was a prominent concern, along with school-related stressors and uncertainty about post-graduation employment and housing. "They expressed a desire for more trusted adult relationships, mentorships, and confidentiality, and they wanted real life preparation," Smith said. She also reported that five of eight participants in the youngest group (ages 13–15) said they wanted to remain in Warren County.

Smith proposed next steps that include publicly sharing findings, coordinating with school boards and administrators, forming a youth advisory group that would combine youth and advising adults, hosting a school-community roundtable, and identifying pilot projects suggested by participants.

Dr. Sharma thanked Smith and called her example "what we're trying to foster," noting Smith's local ties and experience as a youth who left for college and returned to participate in county efforts. Commissioners asked whether the summit would continue; Smith said yes.

The presentation was informational; no formal action was recorded in the transcript.