Rochester Auburn Hills Community Coalition creates Youth Action Council

Students from Avondale School District and Rochester Community Schools kick off new group with a Back to School Beach Bash.

RAHCC, a collaborative organization of area residents, professionals, business leaders and community leaders dedicated to building a healthy community, created a Youth Action Council. The YAC is a group of dynamic and diverse middle and high school students from public and private schools in the Avondale School District and Rochester Community Schools areas who volunteer their time and talents to support RAHCC efforts to prevent underage substance use and to promote mental health awareness.

The YAC gives students a positive voice and distinct presence in the community as they work together with the Coalition and community sectors to come up with creative ways to promote healthy, substance-free choices. “We provide a forum to address teen problems such as stress, anxiety, and peer pressure,” said Rohan Mohan, YAC president. “We want to harness the power that each teen owns to make healthy choices and to make a positive impact in our community,” added Mohan.

YAC meets on a regular basis to plan and organize community-based opportunities for teens to gather in safe, fun and substance-free environments. The YAC held its inaugural event, “Back to School Beach Bash,” in August at Spencer Park, when over 100 students and parents celebrated the end of summer and beginning of a new school year. “I am thrilled to work with this group of motivated, engaged students as they create programs, activities and forums to ensure that our kids are protected and safe,” said RAHCC Youth Coordinator and Avondale Middle School teacher, Maria Kopicki. “We will work alongside RAHCC to arm our youth with the information they need to make healthy decisions that will affect their lives for years to come,” added Kopicki.

The RAHCC held its annual Youth Dialogue Day, titled “Discovering your Spark,” earlier this year when over 120 student leaders explored teen stress and developed coping skills through facilitated table activities, exercises and one person’s personal story from tragedy to triumph. Based on the research from the Minnesota-based Search Institute, “sparks” are those activities and interests that truly engage kids to be their best. Discovering those sparks can help students express their personalities and make unique contributions to the world. Search Institute research shows that kids who thrive have knowledge of what their sparks are and adults who support the development of those sparks.

Other recent events hosted by RAHCC include a Town Hall in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that featured retired Detroit Police Officer Ken Krygel, who explored the latest trends in alcohol and other drug use for middle and high school students. Parents and teens learned the dangers and acceptance of trendy drugs, how to identify drug use, the impact of alcohol and other drugs on mind, body, and behavior and how to implement the best prevention strategies at home.

The Rochester/Auburn Hills Community Coalition promotes healthy lifestyle choices by collaborating with area youth, families and other sectors of the community to prevent and reduce substance use and promote mental health awareness. For additional information about the RAHCC or to learn how to join the Youth Action Council, please visit rahcc.org

RAHCC receives support from the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities via Federal, State, and/or County funding provided through the Oakland Community Health Network- Substance Use Disorder Services to support the project costs. For additional information about the ACHC, please visit achcmi.org.