Engage Arkansas’s Youth Advisory Council to Co-Create 2027 Youth Mental Health Summit

Youth-Led Solutions for Arkansas’s Mental Health Challenges

Young people across the United States face unique struggles compared to their parents and previous generations. The pressures of navigating social media, forming meaningful relationships, and balancing a work/life balance in this techno-centric era leave many youth feeling isolated and overwhelmed.

While national initiatives like Youth Mental Health Corps are training the next generation of young adults to become near-peer support specialists, few spaces connect like-minded young people and amplify their voices on important issues. 

In 2025, Engage Arkansas held a statewide Youth Summit with local community leaders to discuss the state of youth mental health. While productive, the conversation included limited youth voices in discussions of the issue and solutions.

Building on lessons from the Youth Summit, Engage Arkansas’s 2027 Youth Mental Health Summit aims to bring young people and community leaders together to build connections, elevate youth voices, and shape an Arkansas where every young person feels seen, supported, and valued.

To help design the Youth Mental Health Summit, Engage Arkansas seeks 25 young adults in Arkansas to join our new Youth Advisory Council and co-create the 2027 Youth Mental Health Summit!

By Young People, For Young People: EngageAR’s Youth Advisory Council  

Engage Arkansas’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is a committee of 25 youth across the state passionate about improving their peers’ well-being and amplifying their voices and those of other youth. They can create the change they seek in their communities by meeting monthly with peers to identify priority issues youth face and collaborating to develop innovative solutions.

Instead of replicating traditionally rigid councils, YAC is designed to be run by youth, for youth. Members can create their own committees and organize activities such as outreach, community-building, and statewide networking. Mentored by Engage Arkansas and other statewide community leaders, YAC members have the opportunity to form connections across the state.

Why Join the Youth Advisory Council? 

• The Youth Council is a space to turn your passion into action – Meet other like-minded peers and community leaders interested in new ways of addressing key issues.
• Shape solutions, not just conversations – Share your ideas to guide projects and recommendations to make the changes you want to see.
• Join a statewide network of leaders doing impactful work – Build relationships with changemakers to understand how different groups partner to address challenges.
• Use your story to make a difference – Share your experiences and perspective to help ensure youth voices are part of important conversations!   

Selection Criteria/Guidelines

• ALL Arkansas regions are welcome!
• 16 – 24 years old
• Must be able to commit 2 hrs per month (meetings are twice per month for 1hr)
• Passionate about mental health empowerment
• Interested in making peer connections
• Desire to make a difference in Arkansas!
• Able to attend the June 2027 Youth Mental Health Summit

Help design the future you want! Apply for the Youth Advisory Council today!

Applications close Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. 

Have any questions? Contact Engage.AR@adhe.edu for more information.