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PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
INTERIM 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 |
|
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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
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|
|
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
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|
|
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.
|
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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. |
