We all want happy, healthy, self-reliant children living in our community. As a parent like many of you, we know, the challenges our kids face today are different than most of us experienced. From academic pressures, social media influences, and overuse of cell phones to the inherent uncertainties of growing up, our young people are navigating a world that often feels overwhelming.

In Meridian, we want to be the premier place to live, work and raise a family. That means contributing to a family-friendly environment where mental health and well-being are a critical part of their success. Earlier this year we were part of conversations with community partners to explore what Meridian could do to help create a healthier, more supportive environment for our younger generations. As a result of those conversations, the community partners engaged with the Communities for Youth program.

The Communities for Youth Program, led by Boise State University, is a comprehensive initiative to provide support and resources to young people and to engage with them across the West Ada School District in partnership with local cities, including Meridian Star and Eagle. The Communities for Youth program is based on collaborating and mobilizing together parents, students, community centers, clubs, teachers, peer groups, and more to work with partner agencies and organizations to develop early intervention tools and activate community involvement.  Through the guiding principles of community action, early prevention, practical decision-making, and a long-term outlook, Communities for Youth and its partners hope to better help address youth well-being related to mental health, stress, anxiety, and other challenges youth face.

Community engagement is a critical component of the success of the program. The first step in that engagement is a series of listening sessions. These are conversations with adults about the program and the challenges the community is facing. Parents will be in the driver's seat in this conversation and their involvement is essential in helping to recognize the issues our youth face. One of the standout features of the Communities for Youth Program is its commitment to involving every segment of the community. This includes students, parents, teachers, and local agencies. The program recognizes that mental health is not an isolated issue but a multifaceted challenge requiring community effort. Your involvement is crucial to the success of this initiative. There are several listening sessions planned for Meridian in the coming months that will be held at many of our middle schools. You can learn more about the dates, times, locations, and how to get involved by clicking HERE.

We need to be involved to address the challenges that young people face in our community. West Ada took a great first step with their cell phone policy, but we know there is much more we can all do to help. The Communities for Youth Program will identify key issues affecting our youth and ways to address identified challenges. With this guided, targeted support, and community involvement, I’m excited to see how we can strengthen our youth and our entire community.