Compilation by Chris Oshana As current and previous members of the School-Based Health Alliance (SBHA) Youth Advisory Council (YAC), we’ve all gained so much from being a part of this amazing team. The following blog post will focus on highlighting our current and former YAC members, their lived experiences as a part of the YAC, … Read more
By Chris Oshana, Youth Advisory Council Member The following reflects Chris’ lived experiences, thoughts, and opinions. $45,000,000,000. Forty-five billion dollars. According to the CDC, that’s how much money is lost in productivity each year in the US due to untreated oral disease.1 As someone who hopes to enter the dental profession in the coming years, this … 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 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
Description: In May of 2020, SBHA’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) started a youth listening and learning series entitled “Youth Have Thoughts Too” (YHTT). Since then, they have hosted five sessions focused on various topics, including COVID-19, the Black Lives Matter movement, mental health, and vaccinations. Youth-based and youth-led discussions are a powerful way to connect with … 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
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
By Audrey Gabriel, SBHA Youth Advisory Council Member The concept of picking out your career path at the ripe old age of 17 is incredibly daunting, I know it was for me. Maybe you are the first in your family to go to college, maybe you haven’t really been exposed to different career paths, or … Read more
By Nicole Carrillo, Youth Advisory Council member on July 28, 2016 Some believe that young people are a lost cause. If an event or activity doesn’t include technology or similar attractions, youth can’t be counted on to participate. Well, if that is the attitude of the organizers, it will be true. Teenagers can tell where and when they … Read more
By Melissa Akers, Program Manager, School-Based Health Alliance When we launched our inaugural Youth Advisory Council in 2013, I didn’t know what to expect. This was the strongest step the School-Based Health Alliance ever took towards purposefully integrating the youth voice into our organization. After personally speaking with all of the candidates, I knew we … Read more
