1. Our Work>
  2. Teen Mental Health
  3. Project

PA Youth Advocacy Network

Inspired by national youth movements, JHF sought to engage young people in the urgent call to action to improve teen mental health services and supports. In 2018, JHF launched the PA Youth Advocacy Network which provides skills-building and advocacy opportunities for teens who have an interest in mental health. Youth advocates, connected as a powerful network for change across the Commonwealth, are committed to:

  • Educating teachers and students in mental health.
  • Reducing disparities in mental health.
  • Promoting suicide prevention and awareness.
  • Creating safe and inclusive school environments.
  • Addressing mental health as part of health.
  • Establishing school mental health days.

The aim of the statewide youth advocacy network is to connect a diverse group of student leaders, including teens with lived experience facing mental health challenges, and their peers, to develop advocacy skills, understand implications of policy and resource allocation, and advocate for change. Since the initial advocacy summit in November 2018, youth led advocacy and awareness-building efforts in their own communities and joined together to advocate at the state level.

The Network has connected with over 30 youth-serving organizations and students from over 50 high schools across the state, including bringing 18 organizations with over 100 youth to Harrisburg in November 2023 for a Student Mental Health Advocacy Day. The Network continues to connect organizations and youth across the state to push forward a youth mental health advocacy agenda developed by high school students.

PA Youth Advocacy Network Website

Youth-led Advocacy

  • A large group of youth holding signs on a grand staircase in a large government building.

    A Student Mental Health Advocacy Day coordinated by the PA Youth Advocacy Network at the Pennsylvania Capitol on November 15, 2023.

  • Youth gathered in a small group on chairs with one standing and talking in front of a white board.

    Youth discuss policy priorities at the Youth Advocacy Workshop at the Disability & Mental Health Summit on March 3, 2020.

  • A group of teens standing with one in front speaking into a microphone.

    Teens speaking to local legislators and school administrators at the Youth Advocacy Summit on November 6, 2018.

  • A group of youth speak to a government official.

    Youth speak with speak with former Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller in the Capitol Rotunda on May 6, 2019.

  • Four youth stand holding official proclamation documents.

    Four members of the PA Youth Advocacy Network holding the 2023 youth-authored Allegheny County Teen Mental Health Awareness Day proclamations (from left to right): Brooklyn Williams, Brynne McSorley, Minji Kim, and Mohammad Shedeed.