Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Youth Prevention topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Island youth coalitions present prevention programs to San Juan County Board of Health
Summary
Student leaders from Orcas, Lopez and Friday Harbor presented youth-led prevention work—peer education, mental health outreach and medication take-back—and board members praised the programs while asking for support, space and sustainable funding.
Student leaders from three island prevention coalitions described youth-led efforts to reduce substance use and improve mental health at the San Juan County Board of Health on Dec. 10.
Chair Paulson opened the discussion by inviting the Coalitions for Orcas Youth, the Lopez Island Prevention Coalition and the Friday Harbor Youth Coalition to present. Next Generation co-presidents Mia and Ren told the board their Orcas Island High School leadership group uses Healthy Youth Survey data and a positive community norms framework to correct misperceptions about peer substance use and to promote protective activities such as a spoons tournament, Take What You Need affirmations and posters reinforcing that “most choose health.” “Our mission is to inform, support, and empower students to make positive decisions in their future,” Mia said.
Lopez Island’s Valentina Rendon and a team of youth health advocates described peer-to-peer training, bilingual community CPR certification, Orgo Latino events and an after‑school program called Slopez Cafe. They said outreach is driven by student survey data and by intentionally bilingual and culturally responsive programming. “We created a safe space for teens to hang out and be leaders,” one presenter said.
Friday Harbor middle‑schoolers from the HOTS (Helping Out Teen Society) club combined a short presentation with a skit titled “Let People Live,” demonstrating refusal skills, peer influence and how to check in with friends who may be using substances. The students highlighted concrete refusal strategies (say no, offer an alternative, walk away) and urged peers to seek counselors or the family resource center when needed.
Board members and councilors praised the youth presenters. Councilperson Fuller asked what supports the groups need; youth repeatedly cited the need for a dedicated teen space and stable funding. Dr. Ruby and others underscored research showing youth‑led programs tend to be more effective and urged the county to sustain momentum. The board suggested partnering with local facilities (e.g., Lopez Swim Center) and continuing cross‑island collaboration.
The presentations ended with a brief photo opportunity and praise from Chair Paulson, who thanked the young people for their leadership and encouraged ongoing partnership between the coalitions and county programs.
