By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – The public is invited to join a Youth Prevention Town Hall Thursday, April 27 in Port Angeles. The event will bring together presenters from multiple agencies to discuss what local young people and their families need to help them make healthy choices in their lives, and how the various groups can encourage and support them.
Amanda Sanders is the Port Angeles Healthy Youth Coalition Coordinator and is organizing the event. We spoke with her about the coalition and its goals.
“A lot of what we do is about substance misuse, and with youth, all substance use is considered misuse. Right? So, the Coalition is comprised of at least eight sectors from the community. Law Enforcement, the school district, mental health, and we’re bringing panelists. They all work with youths, and/or they’re also preventionists. And, we really need to support these youths in providing opportunities to create healthy choices. To know about opportunities that will fill those voids that might lead to substance use.”
Panelists will include representatives from Port Angeles High School, Police Chief Brian Smith and his Student Resource Officer, as well as the agency know as AWAY and the Child Advocacy Program. The 2-hour Town Hall will be moderated by Todd Ortloff from Newsradio KONP.
We asked Sanders who might benefit from attending Thursday’s program.
“To be honest, anybody who cares about youth and youth prevention. And these are almost adults. Right? We have amazing, amazing kids in this community from all different types of home situations, and they need people to step up, and to create positive childhood experiences and opportunities for them. And, we can be there for them.”
The Youth Prevention Town Hall begins at 6:00pm this Thursday at the Port Angeles City Council Chambers.
Learn more at pahealthyyouth.org.