ELECTIONS 2024: Improving Youth Mental Health (DAVE PAUL)

State Representative Dave Paul (D-Oak Harbor) sent out the following email from his campaign account on Tue., June 25, 2024.

Dear Friends,

I spend a lot of my time listening, so that I can learn what issues are most important to our community—and then work to find solutions. It’s clear from those conversations that we must do more to improve access to quality mental health treatment.  

I’m especially proud of the work we’ve done to improve youth mental health outcomes. Since 2020, I’ve collaborated with local officials, medical professionals, K12 educators, young people, and non-profit organizations to create and secure funding for the Social Outreach, Adventure, & Resilience (SOAR) Program. This innovative partnership is making a big difference in our community, and I’d like to share two recent reports about the program.

At the beginning of this work, we listened directly to young people to hear their ideas. They said it was critical to provide more opportunities for engagement with each other. They also asked to have more professionals to talk to about mental health concerns, without necessarily needing to make an appointment with a mental health counselor.

Based on that feedback, the SOAR Program focused on those two goals. First, we prioritized providing more activities both after school and in the summer through partnerships with school districts and local organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters and the YMCA.

Second, we expanded the network of health professionals who young people can connect with, including community health workers and mental health specialists embedded in schools, organizations, and healthcare clinics.

The Whidbey News Times recently reported on how the SOAR Program is improving our community, with over 800 young people being served through activities sponsored by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Island County. “We want the youth in Island County to have fun and try new things and make those social connections and have the skills and resources to boost their mental health,” said Sarah Gannon, director of programs.

You can read the full article here: Trying something new: Program introduces kids to unique experiences | Whidbey News-Times (whidbeynewstimes.com)

SOAR Program funding and a grant from the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (WCAAP) also helped fund parent workshops at two local elementary schools. The workshops were led by Dr. Amy Garrett and behavioral health specialists from the Island County Health Department, and—according to a recent article from WCAAP—parents found the workshops very helpful. “In addition to learning behavioral interventions and strategies to support family connection, one of the greatest outcomes from the project was the sense of community it fostered among families who participated. Parents shared their appreciation for being able to hear from other families going through similar challenges, sharing what has worked or not worked, and knowing that they are not alone in what they are going through.”

You can learn more about the program at Empowering Communities: FAST-B Program Improves Behavioral Health Support for Families in Oak Harbor – WCAAP – Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics

This is a deeply personal issue for myself and my family. Continuing the SOAR Program—and looking for ways to expand it to neighboring communities—is a top legislative priority for me for the 2025 session.

As always, it’s an honor to serve.

Sincerely, 

Dave 

You can support our work at [Ed. Note: donation link omitted.]

---

[Editorial Policy: The Voter Interests Project is a non-partisan organization. Part of our mission is to keep voters informed about the activities of elected officials and candidates for public office. We do not endorse or support any particular candidates; therefore, we omit all email links and donation links from candidate communications to supporters. If you are interested in supporting a candidate, we recommend you contact the candidate or their campaign directly.]

---