Youth Advisory Council

Oregon’s school-based health centers (SBHCs) provide comprehensive, affordable health care to young people on their school grounds. SBHCs reduce barriers such as cost, transportation, and concerns surrounding confidentiality that often keep youth from seeking the health services they need. Youth engagement is a critical component of the SBHC model. In order to create a youth-friendly environment, it’s important that youth are at the decision-making table when it comes to SBHC services and delivery. In Oregon, many SBHCs engage youth by supporting a Youth Action Council or Youth Advisory Council (YAC), which typically focuses on one or more projects intended to improve SBHC services, accessibility, or marketing. YACs can provide an opportunity for youth to become active partners in their SBHC.

There is a flurry of activity at the Oregon School Based Health Alliance lately as our  Youth Action Council prepares for our 2014 School Health Conference pre-conference workshop: Eye to Eye on Thursday, October 9th from 1-4 PM.

Tobias Rubel is the communications director for OSBHA's Statewide Youth Advisory Council. He recently shared this speech at SBHC Awareness Day in Salem on February 26, 2014. Learn more about Tobias and the Statewide Youth Advisory Council.

Who in here is an expert in law? Anyone? No? Okay great. Anyone in here a health care professional? No? Alright. But who in here has been positively impacted by the healthcare provided by health centers in schools? There we go. I ask because you don’t have to be a lawyer, or a doctor, or a politician to make a change in your community. Every person in this room is making a positive change simply be coming here today. Every one of you has the merit to speak to your representative about your opinions; it is your constitutional right!

Skye Garrett is the operations director for OSBHA's Statewide Youth Advisory Council. She recently shared a version of this story at SBHC Awareness Day in Salem on February 26, 2014. Learn more about Skye and the Statewide Youth Advisory Council.