Healthy Aroostook Advocacy Program
The Healthy Aroostook Youth Advocacy Program actively involves youth in making positive changes in their communities around physical activity, healthy eating, substance abuse prevention, and tobacco prevention and control. The purpose of involving youth is primarily to engage them as effective agents for change by contributing their unique perspectives, fresh energy and desire to take action. Secondarily, active involvement of youth gives them an opportunity to be involved in their communities and promotes the development of new leaders and concerned citizens. Not only do youth in the healthy Aroostook Program have fun, they also develop skills that inspire them to advocate for changes that promote health in their communities.
Healthy Aroostook Youth Advocacy Program reaches out to and engages high school and middle school age students from several school districts across Aroostook County. The intention for the Youth Advocacy Teams is for youth to design and participate in a wide variety of activities including:
- Advocating for policies to make their school and communities healthier places to live.
- Creating presentations and performing for younger students.
- Planning and leading their schools in activities to coincide with national observances such as the Great American Smokeout or TV Turn-Off Week.
- Initiating marketing campaigns that include television, radio and written materials.
- Volunteering time and talents to projects that improve the lives of people in their communities.
