Kansas 4-H launched a new program “Healthy Blue, Healthy You” focused on investing in the mental health and well-being of Kansas youth at the 100th year of Discovery Days. As a part of this program, a community conversation with more than 250 Kansas 4-H youth and volunteers was facilitated by Kansas Youth Leadership Council members in the K-State Student Union ballroom.
The partnership with Healthy Blue aims to create and deliver solutions that respond to the health needs of youth. By hosting a community conversation, youth brainstormed topics including what it means to be healthy, what activities lead to healthy behaviors and the barriers that keep youth from being healthy.
Amy Sollock, 4-H youth development specialist in southwest Kansas, said this was the first of many opportunities for youth to participate in this program. Through partnerships like this, youth are encouraged to share their views on what it looks like to live a healthy lifestyle, issues they may struggle with, and more.
“We really want to come together and create a space for youth to have meaningful conversations,” Sollock said. “We want to put youth in a position where they tell us what they see as a priority for their mental and physical well-being. Then, based on what they tell us, we’ll be able to put a plan together on how we want to address those topics.”
Charmekia Martin, director of growth and engagement for Healthy Blue, said this is the largest donation Healthy Blue has made in the state of Kansas.
“We have faith in Kansas 4-H youth,” she said. “We are proud to say that this is the largest check we have been able to contribute to one organization in order to benefit the entire state of Kansas. These youth are the young, bright and innovative stars here in the state of Kansas and are the ones we can talk to about making change as it relates to mental health.”
There will be a follow-up community conversation at the Kansas 4-H Youth Leadership Forum in November at Rock Springs Ranch, and program leaders will continue to collect feedback from 4-H members across the state. In 2024, Sollock said she plans to implement an action plan to improve the health and wellness of youth across the state.
Martin said Healthy Blue is pleased to be able to support health and well being for youth in Kansas while partnering with Kansas 4-H in the creation of this new and innovative program.
“We are very excited about this healthy living initiative,” Martin said. “We look forward to Kansas 4-H youth taking this information they learn about healthy living and helping bring some of the ideas they have to life in their home communities.”