Local kids to form Youth Action Alliance

News Release
NWHU

The Northwestern Health Unit, in partnership with the Healthy Communities Coalition of Rainy River and surrounding area, is gearing up for a youth centered initiative that aims to get young people involved in promoting tobacco-free living. The Youth Action Alliance (YAA) is part of the new Smoke-Free Ontario strategy and is designed to involve youth in helping youth quit smoking and preventing youth from starting to smoke and to denormalize the use of tobacco for smoking.
Thirty YAA’s have been approved by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care based on proposals submitted by Ontario health units in early 2005. The Northwestern Health Unit received funding for one YAA which they have located in two communities, Rainy River and Dryden. The funding covers the salary and program support for a youth advisor and peer leaders in each community and is approved to December 31, 2005 with the possibility of renewal.
Alicia Nordin, the new Youth Advisor hired to facilitate the Rainy River YAA, says “This local program will be an excellent opportunity for the youth in our community to have an impact on their peers, by doing presentations, implementing smoke-free activities and empowering their peers to stay or become smoke-free.”
Heidi Ivall, speaking for the Healthy Communities Coalition of Rainy River and surrounding area, the community partner with the health unit in supporting this youth initiative, agrees that this project can provide opportunities for local youth to build skills and knowledge about an important health issue and to gain experience in leadership.
Recruitment and hiring of the peer leaders for the Rainy River YAA starts this week and recruitment of additional youth volunteers will follow as Nordin and her peer leaders plan their Smoke-Free Ontario projects for the Rainy River area. Young people between the ages of 14 and 19 who are interested in participating in the new YAA should contact Alicia Nordin at the Rainy River office of the Northwestern Health Unit.