CCHS YYA Newsletter: Vol. 2 (June 2021)

JUNE 2021 | VOL.II

CONTRA COSTA HEALTH SERVICES COVID-19 YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT (YYA) AMBASSADORS PROGRAM PRESENTS

THE YYA: HOPE TO CHANGE! Contributors: Aiden Dhaliwal, Cassidy Woodworth, Cindy Rantisi, Kimberly Cardenas, Isabelle Kirske

"I com want to help mun my ity in ca n, any an d way u se m kno w that y ins I ledg ight e to and b e tter my c s erv omm e unity ."

THIS ISSUE'S FEATURED ARTICLES:

Featured YYA's:

Cassidy, Cindy, & Kimberly

Monthly Updates:

Accomplishments & Achievements During June

Monthly Content:

Social Media Posts & Updates

Cassidy Woodworth, 24 (she/her)

@cassidy_rain

Cassidy wanted to be a Young Adult Ambassador for

COVID-19 prevention because I want to help others in

any way that I can, and use my insight and knowledge

to better serve my community. Cassidy Woodworth has worked tirelessly as a YYA. Her background and

experience with community health helps her to better advocate for a healthy and clean lifestyle. "I got my

Bachelor's degree in Community Health Education

because I knew I wanted to help educate other's in my community about health."

Cassidy believes that youth are heavily misinformed, and that social media is a great

way to spread positivity, with enforcing a true prevention message.

"The main points I hear from young people are 'This won't affect

me', and 'I'm young so I will survive if I contract the virus'. I think it is important for younger people to understand the severity of the situation, before it personally affects them."

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o re ID m C OV facts l take g il in w d h ea "Yout fter r the usly a ics about 's serio t is t n a e t h it s a nd ially w ir spec le the e p , s o u e p vir from g in co m age."

"I was the president of the Tobacco Use Prevention

Education (TUPE) program in high school where we

had lunch time activities and classroom

presentations about the facts and dangers of

smoking." Cindy Rantisi has been a YYA from the very

beginning of the program,

her background in tobacco prevention helps her to

show youth her age that Cindy Rantisi, 20 (she/her)

@cindyrantisi

there are negative health implications with COVID.

"Young people should take precautions and follow the quarantine guidelines instead of going out with friends in large groups and not following COVID guidelines, thinking that it would never happen to them." Through Cindy's leadership roles, she has learned how best to vocalize her

thoughts and opinions with her peers. "It's important to get the word out about the

harms of COVID, especially with youth. I believe that most youth will take COVID more

seriously after reading facts and statistics about the virus, especially when it's coming from people their age."

JUNE ACHIEVEMENTS AND UPDATES:

Updates: The YYA were involved in planning two youth vaccine events in Contra Costa County, specially designed for their peers.

YYA staffed the June 26th Vaccination Festival at Dallas Ranch Middle School in Antioch.

Two YYAs were interviewed by Contra Costa Board of Supervisors that represent their community to help promote vaccination clinics.

Achievements: In the first of four campaigns this month, our youth engaged 3,700+ young people.

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I kn ow I pe e r s c an h el min cha ng p my ds e th a n h C O o w i m d r e a e ir lize VID po rt - 19 p re a n t is." ventio n

"I serve as a pillar to the communities that are underprivileged,

underrepresented,

underserved, or low

socioeconomic status, I

serve those from my own neighborhoods." Kimmy Cardenes worked as a

YYA with one of the first cohorts onboarded.

Kimmy joined this

program with the hope to spread awareness, and build health equity

Kimmy Cardenas, 18 (she/her)

among communities. "If

@kimberlyjcardenas

people can't afford such

luxuries, how can they help stop the spread of the virus?" Kimmy has seen her friends

disregard COVID restrictions, and she hopes that she can re-educate and emphasize the importance of quarantine guidelines. "I know I can help my peers change their minds and realize how important COVID-19 prevention is."

J U N E

S O C I A L

M E D I A

C O N T E N T

A N D

U P D A T E S :

WHAT HAVE THE YYA BEEN POSTING?

As California is opening up, the content theme for June was

@CASSIDY_RAIN

@KIMBERLEYJCARDENAS

"Back to Normal!" This month, YYA educated their followers with the following four

campaigns: how to stay safe with quarantine restrictions

being lifted, the pros of youth

getting the COVID-19 vaccine, personal goals, and how to

support small businesses

within our community. See right for content from our youth!

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