Oregon SBHC Youth Advisory Council (YAC)

What is the Oregon SBHC Youth Advisory Council?

The Oregon SBHC Youth Advisory Council works with the Oregon School-Based Health Network to raise awareness about school-based health centers and youth health issues.  Council members are passionate about youth health advocacy, have experienced the positive effects of school-based health care in their own lives, and want to pass that on. It is a group that was instigated by a young person (Elizabeth Guzman), and strives to be a model for the powerful role youth can play in their own health.

At the School-Based Health Care fall conference in 2010, the idea of a statewide SBHC Youth Advisory Council was discussed among youth with the topics of marketing, awareness, and engagement being of most importance. At that current state, the opportunity of establishing a strong and driven youth council had surfaced, making the perfect time to advance our advocacy measures to be powered by youth and thus make a greater impact. Today we continue in this mission of youth engagement and youth advocacy through youth led trainings, advocacy campaigns, and overall youth empowerment. 
 

What are Our Goals?

  1. Develop a close network of youth leaders from the Portland Metro region
  2. Advocate for youth access to healthcare via SBHCs
  3. Promote youth advocacy and engagement (+ school YACs)
  4. With Network support, make sure youth advocacy is sustainable & effective
  5. Provide trainings for youth, health care professionals, teachers, and lawmakers


Want To Get Involved?

Become a Statewide Youth Advisory Council member NOW! Application HERE

Find us on Facebook !

 


Meet the Members of the Oregon SBHC Youth Advisory Council


Elizabeth Guzman, Council Advisor 


Elizabeth was a four-year youth advocate with the Forest Grove School-Based Health Center before she saught out to establish the Statewide Youth Advisory Council. She brings with her five years of experience as a youth leadership advisor for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area through which she has built up skills in advocacy, leadership, grant writing, event coordination, and a true passion for youth empowerment. Through great enthusiasm and passion she will use the skills she has grown to lead our statewide School-Based Health Care Youth Advisory Council. As a current Junior at Linfield College with a double major in International Business and Intercultural Communication, Elizabeth will use her studies and experience to widen youth advocacy and raise awareness on behalf of Health Care.

 

Milo Lopez

As a freshman at Warner Pacific College, Milo has incentive to take the next steps with his work in mental health, teen development, and public health arenas. He has experience working with youth ages six to eighteen in youth development, has been an active leader in his school, has advocated on a local, state, and national level, has worked to receive a $20,00 grant for the Statewide Youth Advisory Council, and has held the position of president and teen advisor for his teen development program. Milo will use his experience and leadership skills to further promote health care across the state.

  

 

 

Richard Liang

Richard has been devoted to SBHC's since his sophomore year of High School. Driven by his passion in helping others, Richard has lent a big portion of his time as a part of H.O.P.E (Milwaukie High School's Youth Advisory Council), and the Statewide Youth Advisory Council. Now, as a student at Linfield College, Richard wishes to continue his involvement in student health and push to expand the youth advocacy across the State.

 

 

 

Jessica Bickford

Jessica is going to be a rising junior at Forest Grove High School. She enjoys being around people and is friendly. Jessica enjoys being physically fit by being actively involved in sports, four years of track and two years of basketball, at her school. She also has been doing community service with the Boys and Girls Club in which she also gained her leadership skills by volunteering and stepping up when help is needed. Her enthusiasm for fitness makes her a perfect asset to advocate for SBHCs and health care.