A group of four Cibola High School students and staff members from Cibola, Vista High School, and the Yuma Union High School District office made a formal presentation about teen mental health to the Arizona House of Representatives on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022.
The presentation, which included details about YUHSD’s Yellow Ribbon program, its team of social workers, and Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training, was heard by the House’s Ad Hoc Committee on Teen Mental Health, chaired by Representative Joanne Osborne.
“I think often times we slightly overlook student-based organizations,” CHS student Yazmine Miles told the committee. “Prior to 2020, I was unaware how much my school needed a Yellow Ribbon Club. I was unaware of how much of an impact it would have, simply because when we think of clubs, we tend to think of things extracurricular, not so much lesson-based. I think even a call to have [administrators] and districts who push for students to group together and create this club, or clubs similar to this has resounding effects that we don’t even know about.”
Miles was one of four Cibola students who presented on the school’s Yellow Ribbon club. The group also included Kaylee Woods, Taylor Rice, and Bayan Meri. Additionally, VHS Counseling Director Monique Slaughter and Social Worker Devin Sioma spoke about the district’s work in training 99 percent of its nearly 1,100 staff members in YMHFA. YUHSD Associate Superintendent Lisa Anderson, Executive Director of Interdisciplinary Arts Ginny Legros, CHS Education Professions teacher Loren Simpson, and CHS Social Worker Kelly Dale also shared portions of the 15-minute presentation.
A full recording of the meeting is available here: https://www.azleg.gov/videoplayer/?clientID=6361162879&eventID=2022101004
