ADVOCACY CONNECTION

OVERVIEW

Secure and participate in advocacy and speaking opportunities for YAB members and other youth leaders, ensuring their perspectives are heard in the community. Be a voice for youth mental health and help create opportunities for others to do the same.

In this project, you may work on:

  • Speaking Opportunities – Identify and help organize youth panels, policy meetings, and other platforms where youth voices can be shared.

  • Advocacy Campaigns – Research and coordinate campaigns or initiatives for YAB interns and community members to participate in.

  • Community Connections – Work with the YouthWell team to liaise with community leaders, decision-makers, and elected officials.

By working on this project, you will build skills in:

  • Outreach – Finding and securing advocacy opportunities.

  • Communication – Crafting clear, impactful messages for different audiences.

  • Public Speaking – Presenting confidently in panels, meetings, and community events.

  • Networking – Building relationships with leaders and decision-makers.

TIMELINE

This project is ongoing.

TEAM MEMBERS

Project Anchors:

Project Members: Amelie, Guadalupe, Anya, Meranda, Crystal

Project Mentors: Ash S. and Rachael

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

This team helped coordinate an opportunity for students to participate in a children's behavioral health focus group for the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment that informs local healthcare providers about where to direct funding and attention!

DIGITAL STORYTELLERS

OVERVIEW

Create media content & campaigns with eye-catching graphics and engaging messages that reflect the YAB and student voice as well as YouthWell’s mission and values.

Use your creativity to share YouthWell’s mission through the youth perspective. In this project, you’ll help plan social media campaigns, write engaging captions, and design eye-catching graphics that reflect both the voice of the Youth Advocacy Board (YAB) and the professionalism of the YouthWell brand.

You’ll collaborate with the team to create content that educates, inspires, and connects with our community, while learning how to keep messaging consistent and accessible across platforms.

By working on this project, you will build skills in:

  • Social Media Messaging – Writing posts that connect with your audience.

  • Graphic Design – Creating visuals that fit brand style guidelines.

  • Storytelling – Sharing authentic youth perspectives in a compelling way.

  • Brand Awareness – Maintaining consistency in tone, style, and message.

  • Campaign Planning – Organizing content for maximum impact and reach.

TIMELINE

This team meets at 10:00 AM every other Saturday. They also occasionally meet on Thursdays.

They are currently working on developing a podcast! Specifically, they are in the process of drafting mock episodes.

TEAM MEMBERS

Project Anchors: Camilla - camillajoffrey@icloud.com

Project Members: Mehar, Anya, Kaitlyn, Anna, Sahithya, Tiffiny

Staff Mentor: Ashley KH and Ash S.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

This team has developed several music playlists. Be sure to check them out!

EDUCATION CREW

OVERVIEW

Plan and help lead virtual workshops and educational opportunities for youth, parents, and community members.

In this project, you may work on:

  • Mental Health Mentor Sessions – Research and connect with potential guest speakers from the community to spark meaningful conversations with students during monthly Youth Advocacy Board (YAB) Zoom meetings.

  • Wellness Workshops – Help plan, organize, and promote community workshops focused on mental health and wellness for youth, parents, and caregivers.

By working on this project, you will gain and develop skills in: 

  • Event Planning – Organizing and helping run virtual workshops and meetings.

  • Communication – Reaching out to guest speakers and speaking in group settings.

  • Teamwork – Working with other students and community members to plan events.

  • Leadership – Helping guide conversations and keeping events on track.

  • Community Connection – Meeting and learning from local leaders and organizations.

TIMELINE

This team meets on the second and last Fridays of every month from 5:30 - 6:30 PM.

They have a few Mentor Sessions coming up that they are busily preparing for! (attendance of these is required for all YAB members):

  • March 10 from 5:45 - 7:15 PM: Navigating Unhealthy Relationships
  • April 28 from 5:45 - 7:15 PM: Politics, Pressure, and Peace of Mind - a Mentor Session in collaboration with UCSB Active Minds

TEAM MEMBERS

Project Anchor:

Project Members: N/A

Project Mentor: Ashley KH

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Thanks to the ongoing work of this team, Mentor Sessions are in full swing!

On January 13, 2026, they facilitated a college student panel focused on managing academic stress and pressure, featuring personal stories and tips from college students across the country, as well as therapist Melissa Lowenstein.

Their February 10 session centered on social connection and wellness, with YAB students and project co-anchors Victoria Martinez and Marcos Gutierrez sharing how they found community while navigating the constantly evolving world of high school and education, including starting clubs and building supportive spaces for peers.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

OVERVIEW

Help build partnerships by connecting with local businesses, organizations, and community spaces to introduce them to YouthWell’s programs. Participate in grant writing opportunities and fundraising.

You’ll drop off materials like posters and rack cards, and start conversations about ways they can support youth mental health—such as showcasing YouthWell materials in their space, donating gift cards or services, or displaying a donation QR code so patrons can contribute directly.  This project's team members focus on building relationships, sparking community involvement, and encouraging creative contributions to support YouthWell’s work.

By working on this project, you will build skills in:

  • Sales & Fundraising – Asking for donations and support from local businesses.

  • Communication – Talking with business owners and sharing YouthWell’s mission.

  • Teamwork – Working with other students and staff to meet goals.

  • Creativity – Coming up with fun and unique fundraising ideas.

  • Community Engagement – Building connections with local businesses and leaders.

TIMELINE

This project is ongoing.

TEAM MEMBERS

Project Anchors:

Project Members: Ethan, Mia, Neil, Victoria, Charlotte, Grace, Yiyan, Marcos

Project Mentors: Ashley KH and Rachael

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

More info coming soon!

STUDENT NAVIGATORS

OVERVIEW

Update, share, and distribute resources that connect students (K-12) in Santa Barbara County to wellness resources and meaningful community volunteer opportunities. You’ll play a key role in keeping YouthWell’s tools fresh, relevant, and engaging for youth across the county.

In this project, you may work on:

  • Club Connect: Research and contact all high school campus clubs in SB County to encourage their participation in the Club Connect Directory and future Club Connect activities.
  • Volunteer and Internship Opportunities: Conduct outreach to local organizations to educate them about the volunteer directory, inquire about available youth volunteer opportunities, update the volunteer database, and draft digital media to showcase volunteer opportunities on social media. Plan a bi-annual volunteer and intern opportunities workshop. 
  • Student Portal: Maintain and create content for the YouthWell student portal. 

By working on this project, you will build skills in:

  • Digital Content Creation – Designing and updating online resources and social media content.

  • Communication – Reaching out to clubs, organizations, and community partners.

  • Organization – Managing databases and tracking outreach.

  • Event Planning – Helping coordinate workshops and community events.

  • Research – Gathering and verifying up-to-date opportunities for students.

TIMELINE

This team meets every other Sunday at 9:00 AM!

They are actively working on building up the Club Connect, maintaining the Volunteer Directory, planning the March Volunteer Opportunities workshop, and promoting all of these resources to local students.

TEAM MEMBERS

Project Anchors:

Project Members: Yiyan

Staff Mentors: Ash S.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Club Connect & Student Portal

The Club Connect, which has grown to over 140 clubs across eight high schools can be found in the new Student Portal of YouthWell's website!

YAB Portal

This is it! This team also helped develop the YouthWell student portal! Be sure to provide feedback to Ash, Ashley, Rachel, or Brandon about what could be improved on these pages.

Volunteer and Internship Opportunities

This team is busy keeping the directory updated! Find the directory in the Student Sortal or the "Tips" section of the YouthWell website to see their work. They are also planning a workshop for March 11th at 5:45 PM, attendance for which is mandatory for all YAB members.

TABLING TROUPE

OVERVIEW

Lead tabling events by coordinating YAB interns, preparing materials, and creating interactive attendee experiences.

Tabling is one of the most visible ways the Youth Advocacy Board (YAB) connects with the community and raises awareness about youth mental health. Every YAB member MUST participate in at least three tabling events each year, helping share YouthWell’s mission, resources, and upcoming opportunities.

In this project, you’ll take a leadership role in making those events a success; coordinating with YAB interns to staff tables, ensuring materials are ready, and creating interactive ways for attendees to engage with YouthWell. You’ll also train other interns on how to table effectively and may research new tabling opportunities at your school and in the community to help YAB’s presence grow.

In this project, you may work on:

  • Staffing & Scheduling – Coordinate with YAB interns to make sure tables are staffed and ready.

  • Engagement Strategies – Create new and creative activities to help people connect with YouthWell’s resources.

  • Training – Teach other interns how to table effectively and represent the YAB mission.

  • Research – Identify tabling opportunities on your school campus and in the wider community.

By working on this project, you will build skills in:

  • Communication – Talking with community members and sharing information about YouthWell.

  • Leadership – Guiding and training other interns in outreach skills.

  • Organization – Coordinating schedules, materials, and event logistics.

  • Creativity – Designing activities to draw people in and start conversations.

  • Research – Finding and assessing new outreach opportunities.

TIMELINE

This team meets twice per month for one hour on Sunday evenings.

Right now, they are focused on keeping track of YAB members' tabling hours, tracking and securing tabling events, and working on improving the tabling experience for the community.

TEAM MEMBERS

Project Anchors:

Project Members: Helen, Anna, Marcos

Project Mentor: Ria

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Big things are in the works for this project. Stay tuned for more information!

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