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Statewide Youth Health Council

CALL FOR ASPIRING LEADERS 15-19:  APPLICATIONS FOR OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY PUBLIC HEALTH YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL HAVE CLOSED

Are you between the ages of 15 - 19 and interested in having a say in the future of public health in Oregon? Please apply to our OHA-PH Youth Advisory Council! Applications are now closed

View CALL FOR APPLICATION FOR OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL in Spanish: Now closed

Need the application available in a different language? Email kalli.m.nichols@oha.oregon.gov. 




What is OHA's Public Health Youth Advisory Council?

Oregon Health Authority Public Health's (OHA-PH) Youth Advisory Council Charter

OHA's Commitment to Health Equity

OHA is committed to seeking participation on this council from youth from communities most impacted by health inequities, including youth of color, youth from tribal communities, youth with disabilities, youth experiencing housing instability, youth from immigrant communities, and youth who are LGTBQ2SIA+. OHA will provide the youth advisory council with the overarching goal to advance health equity through their work. OHA defines health equity as:

“Oregon will have established a health system that creates health equity when all people can reach their full health potential and well-being and are not disadvantaged by their race, ethnicity, language, disability, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, social class, intersections among these communities or identities, or other socially determined circumstances.

Achieving health equity requires the ongoing collaboration of all regions and sectors of the state, including tribal governments to address:The equitable distribution or redistribution of resources and power; andrecognizing, reconciling and rectifying historical and contemporary injustices."



Apply Here!

Applications have closed!



Questions/Preguntas? 

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​A youth advisory council (YAC) is a youth-led decision-making and service body that helps an organization make decisions affecting youth. YACs can have different structures, compositions, and decision-making authority – but the goal is to empower youth to lead policy and program development. Here are a couple of short videos describing example YACs across the state and country:

-          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6HZvS61eJY  (Hillsboro, OR)

-          https://comicrelief.org/youth-advisory-council  (Comic Relief)

-          https://vimeo.com/226931555 (Muskegon County, MI)

-          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1x4aLalotQ&t=1s (More general explanation of government board and commissions, including youth advisory committee in Tigard, OR)


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Wh​o We Are

A diverse group of youth in Oregon from different counties working on various health and wellness topics. Our equity statement has become central to the work that we do as it has driven all our major decisions. 

As the Oregon Health Authority's Youth Advisory Council, we recognize and prioritize the challenges youth face, especially when it comes to youth well-being. We also acknowledge and emphasize the importance of inclusivity within communities and strive to make youth-informed decisions that values human life. We do this for the future of Oregon youth, and to promote diversity, safety, stability, quality of life, and the rights of every human being. Our goal is to improve communities' health across the entirety of Oregon by offering youth feedback on policy, distribution of funds, and more to reach the goals listed above. 

If you would like to get to know us better check out this video we made about youth voice: 

OHA-PHD YAC Youth Engagement – How Adults Can Work Well with Youth

Past Projects

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is looking for youth leaders to join a Youth Advisory Council (YAC) for the 2025-2026 school year. 

During the 2022-2023 school year, the first cohort of the YAC consisting of 20 youth from across Oregon informed OHA on how to spend $1,000,000 in COVID-19 Recovery Funds for schools.

During the 2024-2026 school year, 

  • Received additional funding to initiate a School Based Health Center Subcommittee to provide youth input and feedback on program policies and processes
  • Completed minor consent and confidentiality project work by creating a youth facing consent and confidentiality document
  • Piloted a YAC mentor program!
  • Participated in Title V Needs Assessment and Prioritization meetings with OHA Maternal and Child Health Programs with the goal of selecting the youth health priorities for the next five years
  • Provided feedback on the OHA's State Health Assessment and State Health Improvement Plan aimed at determining statewide priorities for health

During the 2025 - 2026 school year, the YAC will:

  • Work with the public health department to develop program and policy recommendations that impact youth all over Oregon. The policy recommendations will be youth-led and driven.
  • Continue the School Based Health Center Subcommittee, as well as create additional subcommittees to explore and address new projects and initiatives within the scope of the OHA YAC
  • Merge OHA's Youth Data Council into the Youth Advisory Council! Interested in participating in a subcommittee with a focus on data analysis, research skills and/or surveys? This year members will have the opportunity to provide input to the Student Health Survey, seen here.​


  • Any youth aged 15 to 19 at time of application  
  • Must live in Oregon  ​

OHA will appoint up to 13 youth to serve on the YAC from August 2025 to July 2026; eligible to serve up to two years. Youth will be expected to:

  • Attend 2.5-hour YAC meetings once or twice per month depending on the project.
  • Spend about 3-5 additional hours a month on council activities, such as attending a subcommittee on a topic that you are passionate about.
  • Attend two full day retreats.
  • All meetings will be virtual attendance.​
  • Sample meeting agenda​

Youth who serve on the Youth Advisory Council will receive:

  • $45/hr stipend for all time spent on council activities. Youth will have a choice of direct deposit to a bank account, or selection of gift cards. Please note that OHA will require tax forms (W-4). 
  • Community service hours – youth may receive community service hours in place of funding/compensation if they prefer, and/or if they are unable to receive funding/compensation for participation.
  • Mentorship from state public health officials and adult community partners.
  • Trainings on youth-adult partnership and health equity.
  • Learning opportunities and professional development related to public health, education, and community support.
  • The chance to make a positive difference in the lives of Oregon youth.
  • ​Connection with youth from across the state who have a passion for public health.​

Applications have closed!