Empowering Youth FOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

MyPI Program Builds Resilient Leaders and Strong Community in West Point

By Heather Craig

When Mississippi State University

Extension Agent Natalie Ray was first introduced to Associate Extension Professor Ryan Akers’ My Preparedness Initiative (MyPI) several years ago, she immediately thought of the benefits it could bring to students in West Point Career Technical Center’s (WPCTC’s) Health Science classes.

MyPI is a nationally recognized youth preparedness program offered by MSU Extension. Through a comprehensive curriculum and hands-on experiences, MyPI has proven to have a significant impact on participants, fostering a sense of civic duty, enhancing leadership qualities and promoting community resilience.

Akers said among the six age-appropriate youth preparedness programs offered by MSU Extension, MyPI stands out as the capstone program. It is re- garded as the most aggressive in terms of its content, learning outcomes and overall experience. The program has gained recognition, including from the White House, for its comprehensive curriculum and ability to engage participants effectively.

“We’ve seen noticeable increases in family communication and cohesion, as well as individual decision-making, quality of leadership and teamwork characteristics,” Akers said.

The resulting partnership between Ray and Health Science teacher Larisa Zeigelman has developed strong networks with local assets such as professionals in emergency management and first responders. This collaboration allows for the utilization of existing access to students, ensuring the program’s reach and impact.

“The MyPI program goes beyond the classroom, providing students with valuable simulated field experiences that give them a real understanding of what emergencies entail. Throughout the semester, I visit the classroom about 30 times, ensuring students receive comprehensive training in emergency preparedness,” Ray said.

With a focus on engaging, educating and empowering youth, MyPI equips WPCTC students with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate emergency situations and become valuable assets to their communities.

“Upon completing the program, students receive a backpack filled with emergency preparedness supplies. This encourages them to be proactive in sharing their skills within their families and communities in times of crisis,” Ray said.

Participants in the MyPI program consistently demonstrate gains in knowledge comprehension from the beginning to the end of the program. This includes understanding various risks and hazards, knowing available resources in emergencies and acquiring essential skills for aiding others before first responders arrive.

“They learn that triage is an event, not just a room in a building, for example,” Ray said. “They learn basic things like how to lie patients head to toe, so if one gets sick, they’ll get sick on the next person’s feet instead of their head. That always gets a few laughs, but there are just things the students would not encounter in a typical clinical setting. MyPI provides that experience,” Ray said.

One of the program’s significant achievements is increasing participants’ sense of responsibility toward their communities. MyPI instills an awareness that emergencies and disasters are inevitable, with participants playing a role in protecting their communities. This empowerment encourages them to contribute to the emergency management response team when needed, positioning them as valuable assets rather than impediments.

Akers said the MyPI program maintains a consistent delivery approach across different locations, including Clay County. While instructors teach outside of the school system in most instances, the comprehensive and aggressive curriculum remains constant. All participants are required to complete PREP+6 service projects, which involve developing emergency supply kits and communication plans for their own households, plus six additional ones.

Ray and Akers say participants, parents, instructors and community officials in West Point, as well as other locations where MyPI is implemented, give overwhelmingly positive feedback for the program. Students express appreciation for the eye-opening concepts taught in the program, saying they feel more empowered and educated about emergency preparedness. Parents report similar sentiments and recognize the focus on potential careers in related fields. Ray says the local responders and emergency management personnel notice a change in students’ perspectives on their roles in emergency situations.

“Students are encouraged to remember that their responsibility is to their families and neighbors first,” Ray says. “If they feel intimidated by the idea of knowing what to do in an emergency because of what they see through MyPI, I remind them that they are there as support for the first responders, not as responders themselves. That seems to give them a new outlook on their newly earned skills.” that,” Akers said. “Based on their participation and successful completion of the program, they know that they have a role in protecting their communities from harm.”