Spreading Wellness Around Town (SWAT)
Open Mic Night @ Boulder Coffee
Oct 3rd, Nov 7th, Dec 5th - Come share your stories, experiences, poems, songs and insights into youth mental health, suicide awareness and other youth issues to help reduce stigma and raise community awareness!
SWAT Youth Council is a group of youth who have had personal experience in one or more of the child-serving systems – Mental Health, Juvenile Justice, Child Welfare, Public Schools. The council gets together each month to learn from each other, from community leaders and from other professionals about topics and issues that youth care about. Most importantly, SWAT is a way for youth voice to be included in these systems so youth can influence change and be heard. The change that SWAT youth are seeking is to improve the services and supports these systems and community agencies provide
youth and their families.
- Amplifying the voice of youth to break down barriers and to make real change (PDF)
- Are you ready to take the "next step" in your personal journey? (PDF)
SWAT is connected directly to the child-serving systems through the System of Care Leadership Team so there is a direct path of communication from SWAT members to system leaders. SWAT is for youth and lead by youth.
Membership to SWAT is open to any youth who is interested in participating and leading the change through youth voice and empowerment. There are many opportunities to become engaged in SWAT activities from planning wellness retreats, youth open mic nights, and the annual Got Dreams celebration.
As a SWAT member, youth will not only learn about topics like wellness, job seeking, and relationships but will also develop leadership skills. SWAT youth council members work together in the community to reduce the stigma that surrounds youth who have mental health and behavioral challenges.
SWAT Youth Council has biweekly meetings every other Thursday from 4:30 to 6:00pm. These meetings are based on topics that are important to youth and provide a space for youth to come together and share their voice collectively. Please contact Kat Arat (See below) to RSVP if you would like to observe these meetings before attending.
To join, interested youth can obtain and complete an application by contacting Kat Arat, Youth Engagement Specialist at 474-9504 or email [email protected].
