Youth Engagement and the Youth Advisory Council
Collaborating with young people on youth friendly public health.
The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is a community engagement group of young people from around Washington. They help the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) ensure young people's voices and perspectives are represented in public health programming and projects that impact them.
Members work closely with DOH staff to help shape programs that support teen and young adult health. They also contribute to other state agencies' and organizations' work that impacts young people, including the Washington State Health Care Authority and the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- What does the YAC do?
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The YAC meets regularly with DOH staff to share ideas, opinions, and recommendations about health care and public health, and collaborate on public health projects that benefit Washington's youth.
YAC discussions focus on:
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Challenges and barriers young people face accessing and using health care services and systems
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Health care topics and information that is important to young people
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Solutions and innovations needed to support young Washingtonians to reach optimal health and wellbeing.
Members are expected to:
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Attend meetings: Kick-off meeting in August and monthly YAC meetings from Sept-June.
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Help shape public health work: Share perspectives on public health programs and communications and collaborate on public health projects.
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Create a welcoming space: Support a safe and inclusive space for fellow members with different backgrounds, life experiences, thoughts, and identities.
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Protect privacy: Don't discuss personal and sensitive information about members outside of meetings.
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Participate and communicate: Respond to DOH emails, actively participate in meetings, and let us know if you can't participate anymore.
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- What is the YAC working on?
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The 25/26 YAC Cohort is working on several projects:
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Mini-training for youth-serving providers on how to talk to young people about loneliness and social media use
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Step-by-step guide for health insurance for youth
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Adding new resources to Teen Health Hub WA, including resources for Native youth and disabled youth.
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Sharing young people's perspective with the Youth Friendly Care Network of providers and professionals
YAC members participating in the 26/27 cohort will have the opportunity to work with DOH staff on 2 to 3 public health projects that serve teens and young adults in Washington. Members will select from a list of proposed topics based on recommendations from the previous YAC cohort.
Projects will focus on the following topics:
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Youth wellness and connection
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Health care navigation
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Youth Friendly Care
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Teen Health Hub WA updates and improvements
Examples projects:
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Mini training for health care providers
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How to guides on health topics that are relevant to youth
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Poster or sticker design for Teen Health Hub WA or other public health campaign
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Photovoice project on a public health topic impacting youth
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Speaking to health care providers about youth-friendly care
Check out previous cohorts' work on our Committed to Action! webpage
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- What do members get if they join?
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Members help DOH experts decide how best to deliver public health services to young people. They also get to...
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Learn and practice leadership skills and receive mentoring from public health experts
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Get involved in public health programs or projects serving adolescents and young adults
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Earn volunteer or community service hours
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Get a $50 e-gift card after every meeting or activity the complete
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- What is the YAC schedule?
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All meetings are virtual unless otherwise noted.
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April: New member application period. Applications open April 1 and close April 30.
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May: Applications are screened, scored, and new members are selected.
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June: Applicants are notified if they were selected or not.
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July: New members virtually meet-and-greet with DOH staff.
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For members under 18, a parent or guardian is required to attend this meeting.
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August: Hybrid (in-person and virtual) kickoff and orientation meeting for all new members and DOH staff.
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The next kick off meeting is tentatively scheduled for August 7, 2026.
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September–June: YAC regular monthly virtual meetings
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September–November: Project #1
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December: Teen Health Hub WA meeting #1
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January–April: Project #2
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May: Teen Health Hub WA meeting #2
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June: Final meeting and goodbyes
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- How do I join the YAC?
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Young people who are interested in joining can submit an application to join the YAC. Applications for the next cohort will open April 1, 2026. New members will serve from August 2026 to June 2027.
At the time you apply, you must:
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Live in Washington
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Be ages 13 to 22
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Have internet and email access
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Be able to use—or learn—Zoom, GroupMe, and Basecamp
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Be interested in contributing to or improving public health or health care services for young people in Washington.
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If you’re under 18, you also need:
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A trusted adult for emotional or technical support during meetings. They do not need to attend meetings.
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Parent or guardian permission
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We strongly encourage applications from youth who have experience(s) with or come from:
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Barriers to health care or living in medically underserved areas
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Houselessness or unstable housing
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Economic or structural barriers
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Apple Health (Washington’s Medicaid) insurance recipients
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Feeling left out or experiencing challenges at school
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Behavioral or mental health conditions and care
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Chronic disease conditions or undergoing treatment
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Systems like juvenile justice, child protective services, or foster care
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Visible or invisible disabilities, or who are neurodivergence
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Immigrants and 2SLGBTQIA+
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Black, Indigenous, People of Color
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- How do we select new members?
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Each year, young people are invited to apply to be a member of the YAC. Each YAC cohort has about 30 members, including some returning members from the previous cohort who choose to extend their membership. DOH staff select enough new members to maintain membership levels.
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DOH staff score complete and eligible applications. Our selection process considers:
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Quality of application responses
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Interest in public health and health care improvement
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A mix of members reflective of Washington’s young people based on their backgrounds, lived experiences, and perspectives
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Geographic representation across the state
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Priority for communities most affected by health care inequities, for example, people living in areas with fewer health care resources and access
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- How do we ensure representation from different parts of Washington?
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To ensure statewide representation, our team selects members based on the number of young people in each Accountable Community of Health (ACH) region. This means ACH regions with more people have more members representing them on the YAC.
The chart below offers more information on the number of YAC members selected for each ACH region:
Accountable Community of Health
Counties Represented
Total ACH Population
% of state population
Approximate # YAC Members
Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Lincoln, and Adams
659,738
8.3%
2
Thurston, Mason, Grays Harbor, Wahkiakum, Pacific, Lewis, Cowlitz
680,513
8.6%
2 to 3
Pierce County
941,170
11.8%
3 to 4
Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, Kittitas, Walla Walla, Whitman, Yakima Counties, and the Yakama Nation
765,542
9.6%
3
King County
2,340,211
29.4%
9
Island, San Juan, Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom
1,336,949
16.8%
5
Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap
393,222
4.9%
1 or 2
Clark, Klickitat and Skamania
564,053
7.1%
2
Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, and Grant
276,682
3.5%
1
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For questions, contact us at AdolescentHealthUnit@doh.wa.gov.