“I matter.”

Youth feeling connected to their communities is a strong protective factor.

When RPA and the Resiliency Collective conducted the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, middle and high school youth were reporting low percentages* of feeling like they mattered to people in their community. Because of this, the Resiliency Collective began the “I Matter” campaign, and decided to make a feeling of community belonging among youth our focus.

RPA received a Behavioral Health Equities grant from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Office of Behavioral Health Wellness to promote the importance of African American and Black youth feeling they matter to the City of Roanoke. This grant focuses on the African American and Black community but the data is clear that all youth, no matter their race, are lacking in this connection to the community. We have every expectation to work on protective factors for all races and ethnicities as we move forward.

For more information and to schedule a training, contact Mackenzie Chitwood at 540-982-1427 x5121 or mchitwood@brbh.org

*Only 52.6% of middle school aged youth and 43% of high school aged youth reported that they agreed or strongly agreed that they felt like they mattered to people in their community (2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey.)