Teens are the partners we need for a thriving Arkansas

What would Arkansas be like if every teen had the support they needed to transition into a healthy adulthood?

When Teen Health Arkansas (THAR) asked youth what they thought, the answers were inspiring. They saw themselves happier in relationships because people knew how to treat each other. They saw fewer pregnancies and STIs in their schools; fewer peers turning to drugs or gangs, because they’d have other ways to meet their needs. They saw fewer killings, because violence is a symptom of bigger challenges.

Youth are telling us that the path to a safer, healthier world is to show up, listen, and work with them to make it. They want adults to be co-designers of a world with them, not just build a world for them.

As a fourth-generation Arkansan with roots deep in the Delta, I’ve seen how families with very little shared what they had to uplift their youth. I’m thankful that I never wanted for food, shelter or a listening ear; not everyone is so lucky. Regardless of financial wealth, I was surrounded by adults who poured into me and my dreams. I’ve seen how even when money is scarce, access to knowledge, skills, and caring adults can prepare youth to make healthy, wise choices.

That’s why I’m here – to grow our investment in youth so it’s bigger than the problems facing them. To make this investment reach every home where a teen wonders what their life will become – and how they can reach their dreams from where they are now.

THAR is teaching youth to understand and advocate for the health that makes their wildest dreams possible. How you start is not how you finish, and we’re the coaches preparing and guiding a game they have to play for themselves.

More than a year ago, THAR began our flagship Teen Talk Arkansas program, which engages teens and the adults who care for them in peer-focused conversations about what makes youth healthy. It does more than give information, it builds the skills to put that information into action.

For youth to live up to their potential, adults also need to understand what today’s teens need to develop their brains, bodies, behaviors and beliefs. Possibilities may spark in a room with THAR, but the actual growing up happens everyday in relationships with adults in your community.

Partnering with teens isn’t throwing a book (or a YouTube) at them and hoping it’ll work, it’s preparing them to be in the driver’s seat of their own health. Teen years are when they still have the training wheels of parental guidance. Being able to practice making life decisions means youth are more prepared when a parent or authority figure isn’t in the room – which is when we’re most concerned about them making a choice that limits their future.

Our work in Arkansas has already shown what’s possible; participants leave our programs more able to talk about their health needs with a trusted adult and healthcare providers, communicate with teachers and supervisors in school or work settings, and recognize and navigate feeling stressed, angry, or triggered. The Arkansas workforce needs adults with these abilities – so let’s stop importing and exporting talent, and engage our young people as leaders and team members here.

THAR is putting out the call to the adults and youth ready to make Arkansas the healthiest state for teens. Bring a Teen Talk Arkansas program to your church, community center, scout troop, or any group engaging teens. Visit our website for more programs, insights, and curated resources that help us help teens thrive.

As the adults in the room, let’s make the brave decision to co-design our communities with teens and see what happens. Let’s invest in our youth for a lifetime of advocating for what they need, and what their community needs to thrive. Together, we’ll make healthy happen with teens.

Editor’s note: SiKia Brown, CVM, MPS, is the deputy director of Teen Health Arkansas (teenhealthar.org), which supports young people to comprehensive health education and resources. The opinions expressed are those of the author.