By Emma Bittar, Youth Advisory Council Member Emma Bittar is a college freshman at Tufts University from Bradenton, Florida. She believes that youth have the fundamental right to live their happiest and healthiest lives through equal access to education and healthcare services. Growing up in Florida has allowed me to appreciate the stunning environment around me … Read more
By Baila Salifou, George Washington University student and former SBHA Youth Advisory Council member I was in my AP Biology class when my principal came into class and personally handed me a package from the School-Based Health Alliance. He placed it on my desk and told me there was an opportunity that he thought I … Read more
Week in Review The ‘Be the Change’ Youth Training Program is an annual leadership development conference that connects young people from across the country with like-minded peers who are passionate leaders of change in their health centers, schools, and communities. During the program, participants learn about and discuss health and education topics, develop advocacy and … Read more
The presentation taught companies and organizations about the importance of incorporating youth work and how to do so. Some important key concepts included acknowledging that youth are experts and that all activities or work should be youth-led with adult support, not adult-led. Paying youth for the work that they do or offering alternative incentives is … Read more
Written by Brooklyn Waller, SBHA Youth Advisory Council Member The following reflects Brooklyn’s lived experiences, thoughts, and opinions. Since the COVID-19 pandemic’s beginning, our world has been focused on COVID-19 effects and prevention, rightfully so. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, health care systems shifted focus from the rise of the opioid crisis. In some ways, … Read more
Written by Baila Salifou, SBHA Youth Advisory Council Member The following reflects Baila’s lived experiences, thoughts, and opinions. Schools play an important and unique role in serving the healthcare needs of students. The sexually transmitted infections (STI) epidemic is highly prevalent in young people who, according to the CDC, account for 50% of new infections … Read more
By Emma Bittar, Youth Advisory Council Member Emma Bittar is a college freshman at Tufts University from Bradenton, Florida. She believes that youth have the fundamental right to live their happiest and healthiest lives through equal access to education and healthcare services. Growing up in Florida has allowed me to appreciate the stunning environment around me … Read more
By Brooklyn Waller, Youth Advisory Council member Brooklyn is a freshman at the University of Arkansas. She advocates for those without access to health care and for students to take advantage of their local school-based health centers. The following reflects Brooklyn’s lived experiences, thoughts, and opinions. You walk into your on-campus school-based health center (SBHC) to … Read more
Date: Feb 22, 2021 Author: Baila Salifou, Youth Advisory Council member Content: By Baila Salifou, Youth Advisory Council member Baila is a freshman at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She is focused on tackling mental health stigmas and healthcare discrepancies associated with youth in America, as well as youth across the globe. The following … Read more
By Audrey Gabriel, Youth Advisory Council member Audrey is a first-generation student and activist for immigrants and people of color. She champions health care as a human right and works to bridge the health inequity gap towards all youth’s social justice and well-being. I was on top of the world, cruising through my first year of college, … Read more
