I_COYACRev_2023A 08/09/2023 01:16:40 PM Committee Summary PUBLICSTAFF SUMMARY OF MEETINGINTERIM COMMITTEE COLORADO YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMITTEE Date 08/09/2023 Attendance Buckner X Mason Evans X Eileen Farrell X Siddharth Nareddy X Cate Preece X Rich X Camryn Sample X Meghan Taylor X Reese VanDyke X Weinberg X Moreno E Vigil X Time 01:16:40 PM to 02:29:04 PM Place HCR 0112 This Meeting was called to order by Vigil This Report was prepared by Jeanette Chapman Hearing Items Action Taken hCall to Order Committee Discussion Only hCOYAC Overview Committee Discussion Only hYouth Mental Health Committee Discussion Only hViolence Against Youth Committee Discussion Only hAsian-american History Committee Discussion Only hResource Assistance in Public Schools Committee Discussion Only hNon-legal Name Changes in School Committee Discussion Only hYouth Gender-affirming Care Committee Discussion Only hNext Steps Committee Discussion Only Call to Order - Committee Discussion Only COYAC Overview - Committee Discussion Only 01:17:39 PM Sarah Moss, Director of the Colorado Youth Advisory Council (COYAC), gave an overview of COYAC. Youth Mental Health - Committee Discussion Only 01:21:24 PM Siddharth Nareddy, from Senate District 25, presented on Youth Mental Health. There are a shortage of resources for youth mental health. Access to treatment is short across the state, especially in lower income and rural communities. Schools psychologist shortages and retention are a key problem that needs to be addressed. The proposal is to provide financial relief to psychologists for their education. 01:29:04 PM The committee asked about alternative reasons for schools psychologists not staying. 01:30:03 PM The committee asked what the Department of Higher Education is doing to finance the initiative, and the overall cost. Mr. NaReddy stated that current funding in the Department of Higher Education is not focused on root causes. Success of the program may also prompt the Department of Higher Education to adopt the model. Violence Against Youth - Committee Discussion Only 01:34:47 PM Cate Preece, from Senate District 26, presented on gun violence against youth. School shootings are a large problem in Colorado, and the threat assessment and data in schools is underutilized and inconsistent. A solution is to have a gun violence prevention task force to examine gun violence in schools and that school districts inform parents on safe storage of firearms. 01:40:36 PM The committee asked about reaching out to law enforcement. Ms. Preece stated that the committee has not reached out to law enforcement but that a school resource officer representative should be part of the discussion going forward. They also stated that further background information to resource officers can be helpful in making them effective. Asian-american History - Committee Discussion Only 01:46:16 PM Camryn Sample, from Senate District 31, present on Asian-American history, diversity, and representation. Currently, there are a lack of standards in Colorado for teaching Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) history. Current policies are ineffective in promoting teaching AAPI, and curricula do not cover aspects such as internment camps and racism. The proposal would create an ethnic studies commission to expand on current legislation, and also require school districts to release an annual diversity, equity, and inclusion report. 01:52:25 PM The committee asked about what is happening in schools currently. Ms. Sample stated that there is not much teaching of AAPI contributions. Resource Assistance in Public Schools - Committee Discussion Only 01:56:30 PM Reese Van Dyke, from Senate District 9, presented on resource assistance and hygiene products. Hygiene products are less accessible for low income families and lack of accessibility negatively impacts health, education, well being. The proposal is to create a state grant program for resource pantries at schools to receive hygiene and menstrual products. 02:02:33 PM The committee asked about a previous Senate Bill on menstrual products. Ms. Van Dyke, stated that the program may currently be underutilized. Further, the existing program provides menstrual products in school bathrooms, this program focus on providing supplies to students to take home. Non-legal Name Changes in School - Committee Discussion Only 02:08:13 PM Meghan Taylor, from Senate District 12, presented to the committee on non-legal name changes in schools. Currently, Colorado lacks systems to institute non-legal name changes in public schools. The proposal is for Colorado should develop a consensus of procedures for non-legal name changes in public schools and that there should be an advisory committee to study the issue. 02:12:45 PM The committee asked about disagreements between students and parents with non-legal name changes. Ms Taylor stated that working with parents and students on disagreements should be a priority. Youth Gender-affirming Care - Committee Discussion Only 02:15:10 PM Mason Evans, from Senate District 3, and Leigh Schmidt, a COYAC alumni, presented to the committee on youth gender-affirming care. Currently, gender-affirming care for youth is often inaccessible due to increased demand and a lack of widespread provider training. The proposal recommends that Colorado create a grant program to provide widespread training to family planning clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and Rural Healthcare Clinics, and create a task force to study the issue. Next Steps - Committee Discussion Only 02:24:47 PM The office of legislative legal services presented to the committee on next steps. 02:29:04 PM The committee adjourned.
