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Empowering Youth Advocacy: Students Push for Mental Health Support in Massachusetts
The Alliance to Growth youth cohort is playing a pivotal role in shaping the direction and impact of the Metro South West Community Health Initiative, a Boston Children’s-supported effort to promote mental health and well‑being across seven Massachusetts communities.
Facilitated by the Office of Community Health, the program brings together young leaders from Brockton, Framingham, Needham, Quincy, Randolph, Waltham, and Weymouth to share their lived experiences, identify community concerns, and collaborate with experts and local organizations. Alliance to Growth is focused on youth mental and behavioral health.
In October, the group met with members of the Boston Children’s Office of Government Relations (GR) team to learn about local advocacy and deepen their understanding of three mental health bills moving through the Massachusetts legislative process. These bills included proposals to allow excused absences for mental health and to ensure schools can receive MassHealth reimbursement for services provided to students.
In January, the GR team presented an Advocacy 101 session to the youth. Alliance to Growth members selected one or two bills to champion and drafted letters explaining why these policies mattered to their communities. Youth participated in optional office hours with Office of Community Health and Office of Government Relations staff to review their talking points and get feedback.
This preparation culminated in a State House advocacy day on March 18 where Alliance to Growth participants met with legislators and staff from their districts to share key talking points and highlight the importance of each bill. The visit also included guided tours led by State House staff. In total, 15 youth participated in this event.
Fifteen youth from Alliance to Growth participated in the State House visit on March 18. These youth were representing their communities and are active participants in the following organizations.
- Waltham Partnership for Youth
- Immigrant Family Services Institute
- Gems@TheArts
- Healthy Randolph Collaborative
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro South
Thank you to the Office of Government Relations for coordinating this event.
About Alliance to Growth
In 2023, a youth advisory group was convened to help guide and inform the work of the Metro South West Community Health Initiative. Today, this group is known as Alliance to Growth with youth participating from Brockton, Framingham, Needham, Quincy, Randolph, Waltham, and Weymouth. Participants provide insight into the many aspects of mental health and well-being as well as other issues that are impacting their communities.