I_COYACRev_2021A 09/03/2021 01:03:09 PM Committee Summary

Minority Leader McKean, temporary chair, made introductory remarks about the Colorado Youth Advisory Council (COYAC) Review Committee. A meeting agenda was distributed to the committee (Attachment A).

Taleen Sample and Aimee Resnick, COYAC Review Committee members, presented the first COYAC policy recommendation, concerning youth mental health and promoting the Colorado Crisis Services Program (Attachment B).  The presenters discussed the youth awareness and use of the Safe2Tell Program and the Colorado Crisis Services Program. The presenters discussed recommendations to promote the Colorado Crisis Services Program in schools by printing information about the program on the back of student IDs. Ms. Sample reviewed efforts in other states to promote various mental health and crisis hotlines to youth. Ms. Resnick discussed potential costs related to adding information to student IDs and other related printing costs.

Ms. Resnick responded to questions from the committee about the Safe2Tell program. Camden Sharkey, COYAC Review Committee member, provided additional information about the Safe2Tell Program. Ms. Resnick and Ms. Sample responded to additional questions about the recommendations, including data collection about the Safe2Tell Program and other organizations that may seek to also have information printed on student IDs. Discussion occurred about the ability of the Colorado Crisis Services hotline to address additional call volume that may occur if the hotline number is promoted in schools.

Olivia Christiansen, COYAC Committee member, presented the second COYAC policy recommendation, concerning foster care youth and education waivers (Attachment C). She reviewed information about barriers to higher education for foster youth and the federal Chaffee Educational Training Vouchers.  Ms. Christiansen discussed how other states that have implemented higher education tuition waiver programs and required counselors at institutions of higher education for enrolled foster care youth.

Ms. Christiansen responded to questions about the recommendation concerning foster care youth, including how many students may qualify for the program being recommended and the potential roles and responsibilities of the foster youth counselors. Committee discussion continued with Ms. Christiansen about the youth that would qualify for the program, which colleges and universities would be included in the program, and the counseling aspects of the proposed program.

Bennett Lane and Camden Sharkey, COYAC Review Committee members, presented the third COYAC policy recommendation, concerning updating outdated language in the Youth Advisory Council Act (Attachment D). The presenters highlighted potential changes to the COYAC member selection process, modifying the COYAC leadership structure, and allowing for virtual meetings to engage students in rural areas of the state.

Mr. Sharkey and Mr. Lane responded to questions about potential changes to the COYAC leadership structure and allowing remote participation in meetings.

Sarah Moss, COYAC Director, provided information about upcoming in-person COYAC meetings and other recent efforts to update the internal infrastructure of COYAC.

Committee discussion about the potential benefits of remote participation in meetings ensued.

The committee recessed.

The committee discussed the first COYAC policy recommendation, concerning youth mental health and promoting the Colorado Crisis Services Program.

The committee discussed the second COYAC policy recommendation, concerning foster care youth and education waivers, including involving other legislators and stakeholders in the drafting process.

The committee discussed the third COYAC policy recommendation, concerning updating outdated language in the Youth Advisory Council Act.

The committee members made concluding remarks.