HARTFORD, Ky. — Are you a youth or adult who cares about young people? If so, you are invited to be a part of OC United for Youth.
OC United for Youth will hold a meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, at the Ohio County Library Annex. The Ohio County Public Library Annex is at 424 Main St. in Hartford.
Young people need the community’s support now more than ever.
- More than a third of high school students reported they experienced poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 44 % reported they persistently felt sad or hopeless during the past year.
- More than half reported they experienced emotional abuse by a parent or other adult in the home, and 11% experienced physical abuse by a parent or other adult in the home.
- About one in five high school students reported being bullied on school property. More than one in six high school students reported being bullied electronically in the last year.
- Suicide was the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-14 in 2020-2021.
Once, Ohio County youth experienced this:
- Over 100 young people had a supportive adult mentor meeting with them once a week at school.
- Youth representatives attended or advised the Ohio County Fiscal Court, the Ohio County School Board and city councils.
- Most young people had neighbors who offered support and provided boundaries for them.
- Young people had opportunities to serve in the community, church and school.
- Adult-supervised activities for youth included poetry readings, band nights, and wellness events.
- Ohio County was named one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People by America’s Promise.
We can do it again, together.
You can help by joining with Ohio County United for Youth, or OC UNIFY, to work with other youth and adult volunteers to build the 40 Developmental Assets and foster positive youth development. OC UNIFY will continue activities like Celebrate the Child and reboot others like Ohio County Youth Sunday. These are things we can do that cost very little, but make a difference for kids. You are needed to make it happen.
For more information, call 270-256-6099.