Healthy Living

YOUTH GAIN SKILLS IN DEALING WITH PEER PRESSURE & STRESS, MAKING GOOD DECISIONS, AND IMPROVING THEIR SELF-VALUES.

Award-Winning Program Addresses Youth Mental Health

Your Thoughts Matter is a statewide program in both a virtual and face-to-faceformat that is designed to guide youth in learning more about mental health with an emphasis on reducing stigma, how to guide conversations about it with family and friends, and how to promote more positive understanding and action in their homes, schools, and communities.

After participating in Your Thoughts Matter: 100%

OF YOUTH SURVEYED FEEL SUPPORTED BY THEIR PEERS IN THIS 4-H PROGRAM

94%

KNOW RESOURCES RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH THAT THEY CAN SHARE WITH OTHERS IN NEED 94%

CAN IDENTIFY AN ADULT WHO COULD GIVE THEM ASSISTANCE IF THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH A CHALLENGING SITUATION 90%

90%

FEEL THEY HAVE SOMEONE THEY CAN REACH OUT TO IN ORDER TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL 87%

KNOW COPING STRATEGIES TO HELP DEAL WITH STRESSFUL SITUATIONS 87%

ARE MORE CONFIDENT IN THEIR ABILITY TO TALK TO OTHERS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AFTER PARTICIPATING IN THE SPIN CLUB.

LEARNED NEW INFORMATION

This program was a 2nd Place National Winner and 1st Place Central Region Winner in the NEAFCS Annual Awards Program. 2021 Youth in Action award winner and Illinois 4-H member Elizabeth Weidner shared her journey of battling childhood cancer and becoming an advocate for childhood cancer awareness using her public speaking training she received through Illinois 4-H at the National 4-H Healthy Living Summit.

Illinois youth learn nutrition, cooking, and meal prep skills to become healthy living changemakers

Healthy Living Ambassadors teach a virtual lesson for SPARK Into 4-H.