Since November of 2017, Youth to Youth groups at Mitchell and Yancey county middle schools have been hard at work developing leadership skills and creating positive change in our community. This school year, Appalachian Youth to Youth groups have been busy expanding to additional schools, implementing new initiatives, and making plans for this spring.
- Appalachian Youth to Youth will be addressing the Bakersville Town Council to advocate for the River-walk playground area to be smoke free. Students are currently obtaining signatures from their peers as support and are preparing for the discussion.
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Youth to Youth has expanded to Mitchell High School this school year meeting once a month afterschool. Students are working on strategies to address vaping in the high school.
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Students have partnered with local pharmacies to host informational tables to distribute free lock boxes, educate about the importance of locking up/putting away medications and to raise awareness on local resources available to prevent medication misuse.
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Four Appalachian Youth to Youth students representing Yancey and Mitchell Counties have received a state scholarship to attend the NC Prevention Conference on May 5th and 6th in Raleigh, NC.
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Students will be presenting the medication safety program “Samantha Skunk” at Blue Ridge Elementary School this spring.
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Students are engaging in the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) model to assess the community and address youth related issues such as drug dealing, drug availability, and underage drinking.
