Youth Advisory Council
About Us
HDGH Youth Advisory Council is an organization within Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare that connects to the community through youth-led initiatives. We strive to improve the health of our community with mental health education through social media, education events, and volunteering! We collaborate with local organizations and the hospital and most recently, we ran an event, Wellness Through Grace in May 2021. We would like to thank our local sponsors who made this event possible, WETech Alliance, HCA Mindbox, Bana, CMHA, Conseil Secondaire Viamonde, the Windsor Spitfires, the University of Windsor, Maryvale, the Odette Commerce Society. As of January 2022, our team consists of Katarina Kolobaric, Milica Paunic, Sydney Shepherd, Nikola Kolobaric, Julia Thibert, Dima Ahmad, Chitra Bidlon, Amanda MacNeil, Malek Mekawi, Tara Almosawi, Avery Ng, Sahana Kalidindi, Gurshabd Singh Varaich, Jenna Taggedine, Burke Koekstat, and Natasha Nakhle.
Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH) is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of the Windsor-Essex community through the delivery of patient-centered, value-based care. Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare is a unique community hospital offering Rehabilitation Services; Mental Health & Addictions; Complex Medical and Palliative Care; and Children and Youth Mental Health Services. We offer a unique blend of services including but not limited to community and home-based services. In collaboration with our healthcare and inter-sectoral partners, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare is providing care in new ways and in new locations throughout the region to address barriers, improve access and patient outcomes and improve the overall patient experience.
It is our goal to continue to invest in the future of our community by working ahead of people getting sick and producing an overall positive impact on our entire region. In order to achieve this goal, we recognize the benefits of hearing from the voices of our future leaders: our youth. We need you to help us shape the future of healthcare in Windsor-Essex County.
Our team is excited to have launched the HDGH Youth Advisory Council. This council is made up of members, like you, who share in our dedication and vision of advancing the health of our patients and region.
Those selected to be a part of this initiative will work directly with our Executive Leadership Team, Board of Directors, and our frontline staff, to advise and provide feedback on hospital programs, services, new initiatives, and community engagement. Our Youth Advisory Council is a key part of the HDGH governance decision-making process.
We recognize that our community is diverse and full of incredible young minds. We are thrilled to offer this opportunity for our local youth to become engaged, create a lasting impact, and have a strong voice in making our entire community a healthier place for all.
Requirements
- Youth wishing to apply for the HDGH Youth Advisory Council must be between 15-20 years of age.
- Youth selected to the Advisory Council will be required to participate in our hospital Orientation. We will also require a signed confidentiality agreement and a new member contract.
- Applicants 18 years of age or older will require a vulnerable sector police clearance.
- No previous experience is required.
- The minimum term of service is 1 year, maximum term is 3 years, with additional service time in leadership positions.
- Meetings to be held twice monthly
Interested in Becoming a Member?
Are you passionate about the issues that affect youth and looking to make a difference in your community? Are you a youth currently residing in Windsor-Essex and between 15-20 years of age? The HDGH Youth Advisory Council is made up of members, like you, who share in our dedication and vision of advancing the health of our patients and region. We are thrilled to offer this opportunity for our local youth to become engaged, create a lasting impact, and have a strong voice in making our entire community a healthier place for all.
If you are interested in becoming a part of our council, please find the application at our website - www.hdgh.org/yac. A full list of requirements that are expected of our applicants is included. If you have any questions about YAC or about the application, please do not hesitate to email us at yachdgh@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
The 2023 applications for the Youth Advisory Council will be open from February 13th to March 13th, 2023. Apply today!
As always, you can contact us at yachdgh@gmail.com with any questions.
Events
Wellness Through Grace 2022
Our second annual WTG event took place on October 6, 2022. Thank you to all of the participants who joined us and a big thank you to all of our sponsors and speakers who made this event possible! We hosted this virtual Mental Health & Wellness Summit for over 300 high school students from the Windsor-Essex Community. The day was filled with many educational workshops and activities focusing on topics of Mental Health and Addictions Awareness, Social Justice and Let’s Get Real. If you would like to revisit some key points of the day, our instagram, @hdghyac has a summary post of the event. Recordings of the event have been made available to participants (via the event website) but are not open to the public.
Feedback from participants:
“This was a great event, kudos to all of you who put this together and acted upon it! It's amazing seeing others who care about mental health.”
“I learned so many more strategies and skills for coping with stress, workload management and exam time. Thank you!”
Youth Photovoice Project
This event took place virtually on February 17, 2022. Thank you to all of our youth participants who presented some incredible photos and stories! Photovoice is an innovative project which uses photography to tell stories and work towards social change. The project engages the youth of Windsor-Essex in expressing their perspectives on issues they think are important, and empowers them to create positive change in their community using photography as their medium. If you would like to view the photos and captions from the event, visit our Padlet.
Missed the presentations on Gallery Night? Watch a recording of all the presentations here!
We are also currently in talks with a local gallery about showcasing this important project in the upcoming months. Stay tuned here and on our social media channels for all of the updates!
Recent Collaborations
- Coldest Night of the Year: Fundraising for The Windsor Downtown Mission
- Salvation Army: Fundraising to support The Windsor Salvation Army
- Poppin Popcorn Fundraiser: Volunteering as delivery drivers
- IG Walk for Alzheimer's: Raise awareness and support for The Alzheimer's Society
- WeSpark x YAC: creating a mental health resource page for WeSpark’s website
- Christmas Kettle Campaign Fundraiser Volunteers
Social Media
Our communications team releases new posts 3 times a week on our Instagram account HDGHYAC. Our content ranges from mental health awareness and education, community activism, social justice, helpful resources, and even adorable dog videos! If you have an interest in mental health conditions, coping strategies and social justice, this will satisfy your curiosity. Have a look and give us a follow!
Volunteers
Holding an event that needs volunteers? Ask YAC! We are always looking for ways to get involved in community efforts. Please contact us at yachdgh@gmail.com to discuss further.