Announcing the Youth Advisory Board
The Crisis Center is excited to announce the formation of the Youth Advisory Board! We are opening applications for our initial cohort this week. Read on to learn more about this exciting new opportunity for San Mateo County youth interested in mental health advocacy.
What is the Star Vista Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Center Youth Advisory Board?
The Crisis Center YAB will be a youth-led committee of young leaders who want to advocate for youth voices in mental health and crisis services. Members will be residents or students living or attending school in San Mateo County, ages 16-21.
The YAB will advise on youth aspect of Crisis Center programs, plan presentations and events, run outreach activities, and act as youth advocacy ambassadors around mental health and mental health services in San Mateo County.
Members will also receive trainings around topics such as suicide prevention, mental health, and specific group topics like LGBTQ+ and cultural humility. The group will also receive mentorship and skill building around communication, outreach, leadership, and youth advocacy.
The group will be facilitated by Allie Rogge, Program Coordinator for Teen Services and Outreach for the StarVista Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Center.
The initial cohort of YAB will additionally be responsible for creating the board’s guidelines, structure, and goals. As the group will always be youth-led, this is a very important step in the process for creating the YAB and centering youth voices.
What is the time commitment and when does the YAB meet?
The initial cohort of the YAB will need to commit to 1 year of service, beginning January 2022 until January 2023.
The time commitment will be one monthly meeting that will run 1.5 to 2 hours, and additional 1-hour weekly work groups depending on the member’s roll in active projects.
The dates and days of meetings will be decided during the first meeting of that year’s YAB cohort and may change due to member availability.
What is the eligibility and how to apply?
Applicants must be between the ages of 16-21 and either residents of San Mateo County or attending school in San Mateo County.
Applicant success qualities:
Interest in advocating for youth voices in San Mateo County mental health and crisis services
Interest in mental health and suicide prevention
Punctual and dependable
Solid interpersonal communication skills
Strong integrity around personal conduct
Able to work on projects in a group and meet both internal and external deadlines
Be proficient in English
Have access to a computer and stable internet connection
Initial YAB meetings in 2022 will be held remotely through Zoom with some flexibility to meet in-person in accordance with safety parameters and requirements.
The YAB is inclusive of disability and lived experience (meaning personal experience with mental health challenges). If you require accommodations to participate in this group, please include those in your application or email Allie Rogge, group facilitator, to discuss.
There will be 7 spots in the initial 2022 YAB cohort.
To apply, fill out the application on the Crisis Center website. Applications will be open until February 15th. Applications will go through a blind committee process of Crisis Center leadership and staff, then be part of an interview process before final member selection.
Please email Allie Rogge with any additional questions.