YES2

Applications for the CSSRC Youth Advisory Council 

The CSSRC youth council, YES², is now recruiting students for the 2022-2023 academic year. We are looking for high school students interested in sharing their perspectives on school safety and to work with us to reach other students on these important topics. All of the necessary information to apply is below including information about stipends. Feel free to call Dustin Hunter at 303.239.4533 for any questions.

Application Document Packet (2022/23)             

For the 2015-2016 school year, the YES2 Youth Council focused its efforts on a video-based project to obtain youth voice regarding school safety issues. Council members used indicators identified by CO9to25 as their topics of priority, created interview questions for each indicator, and interviewed staff and students from their respective schools. Each interviewee selected the indicator of most importance to him or her. The interviews were compiled into vignettes based on the indicator on which staff and students chose to speak.

Check out the videos below.

Binge Drinking Video Transcript

A female student is being interviewed while standing in front of a locker, facing the wall. She remains anonymous as the camera only captures her back.

Interviewer  00:03

How would you define binge drinking?

Student  00:05

Drinking a lot.

Interviewer  00:08

Do you have friends or peers that binge drink?

Student  00:11

No. Not that I know of.

Interviewer  00:14

Why do you think people your age binge drink?

Student  00:17

I don't know. It's kind of complicated. But like, it just seems like a weird thing. I think like challenging their own like life. Like limit is like when you like see a door doesn't pull. It's like kind of like a challenge.

Interviewer  00:37

Do you think it's okay to binge drink?

Student  00:39

Not really. It's not really safe.

Interviewer  00:41

Do you think that there are alternatives to deal with problems rather than binge drink?

Student  00:45

Me? Yes.

Interviewer  00:47

Like what?

Student  00:49

See a psychologist.

Interviewer  00:51

Does the school have programs to help support students with substance use problems?

Student  00:57

Yeah, it's called the counseling.

Interviewer  00:59

How can they access that support?

Student  01:02

They can just like walk to the counselor's office like, oh, I binge drink. And then that's it.

Community Involvement Video Transcript

Three students are being interviewed and take turns answering the interviewer's questions. Student #1 is a female, Students #2 and #3 are males. All are facing the camera, recorded in portrait mode.

Interviewer  00:03

Do you think our students are involved in the community?

Student  00:06

No.

Interviewer  00:07

Why?

Student  00:09

Because no one cares.

Student #2  00:12

What do you mean by community?

Interviewer  00:15

Their community like where they live and stuff.

Student #2  00:18

By involving like Recycling? Oh, yeah. I'd say that we're involved.

Student #3  00:24

No, no, I do not.

Interviewer  00:27

All right. Why? How come?

Student #3  00:30

Because I have not seen them do anything for the community.

Interviewer  00:34

How many students do you think volunteer within their community when the opportunity arises?

Student  00:40

Like an actual number?

Interviewer  00:42

Just a percentage.

Student  00:45

25%.

Student #2  00:47

Not that many, there is just not that much effort.

Student #3  00:52

maybe a fourth?

Interviewer  00:54

How do you think students can get more involved in the community?

Student  01:00

The community is not really involved either. In the schools, if the community was more involved, I think the students would reciprocate.

Student #2  01:08

Get the word out and be maybe involve better rewards and they'd probably join.

Student #3  01:14

Community service.

Interviewer  01:16

How could the community get the students more involved?

Student  01:19

First, get involved.

Student #2  01:24

Have fliers, put events, put rewards, stuff like that. Get people interested,

Student #3  01:29

Introduce community service to the students.

Interviewer  01:32

How do you think students benefit from community involvement?

Student  01:54

Leadership skills, responsibility, learning outside of school in the real world instead of in the classroom.

Student #2  02:05

It prepares them for when they grow up, that they have to involve in the community, in the system, in the state.

Student #3  02:12

It gets them more involved with the community.

Interviewer  02:14

That is not the answer I was looking for. So what like what, what benefits do you get from community service?

Student #3  02:31

 I don't know.

Interviewer  02:32

In what ways are the youth involved in the community?

Student  02:34

I mean, I guess some people do peewee basketball, and track and jobs. But maybe there's no like, there isn't really anywhere to volunteer here. Like a homeless shelter or anything. So...

Interviewer  02:51

how could they be more involved?

Student  02:55

I don't know. Do things they wouldn't be willing to do like we care for, like cleaning the park, ski hill stuff, maintenance, talking to community members about a gym.

Student #2  03:14

Just by participating in just giving all they have all the effort they got.

Interviewer  03:19

Where do you see a need for youth to be more involved?

Student  03:28

Well, Miranda, I think that if the community saw that the students were involved, they might feel the need to get more involved. Like they think we just don't care

Interviewer  03:50

Where can students get information about volunteer opportunities?

Student  03:54

Anywhere. Me. Come to me. No, I don't know. What's that building called? The county... Not commissioner. Shoot. It looks like... It's like right next to the post office. Like right across from the post office. The Chamber of Commerce, yeah.

Student #2  04:30

Schools, local shops, and stores. I don't know. Seeing a flyer in the wall. Yeah, stuff like that.

Student #3  04:39

Front desk.

LGBTQ Video Transcript

One female school staffer and two students are being interviewed. The school staffer is facing the camera while sitting at her desk. The first student is a female who hides her face with her hand. Student #2 is a male facing the camera.

Interviewer  00:03

Do you or someone you know, identify as LGBTQ lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning or queer?

School Staffer  00:10

Yes.

Interviewer  00:11

Okay. Would you like to go into more details? I know you don't have to, but...

School Staffer  00:17

Oh no, that's fine. I have a couple of friends, one's already gone through gender... What's it called, gender transition, and another one is currently actually starting the process. I have a couple that have already done it for like 20 years. And you know, I I know a lot of people I know a lot of gays and lesbians, cosplayers, a lot.

Interviewer  00:41

Do you or anyone you know, identify as LGBTQ?

Student  00:45

Yeah.

Interviewer  00:47

Do you believe that your school is providing sufficient resources to LGBTQ youth? Why or why not?

School Staffer  00:53

Not sufficient, but I think we offer more than most schools do. The reason why I say not sufficient is their optional club. That meets once a week at lunch for it, but there's nothing really where a lot of people don't address when kids call each other gay. That's gay. Stuff like that. It's not really addressed. In most classrooms or the hallways. I also feel that, you know, from a school perspective, it's not really something they address as well. More bullying type of thing like gang stuff, but they don't really address this.

Student  01:25

Yeah, I mean, they have a group for it too. And just maybe if they've asked students to be more respectful of some sexualities.

Interviewer  01:35

How do you think non LGBTQ youth are responding to LGBTQ issues?

School Staffer  01:41

I'm thinking overall, they're accepting but they also use derogatory terms. They don't know the language they use is insulting.

Student  01:50

They're being rude sometimes. I mean, some understand which is great. But others don't.

Student #2  01:56

I think that they deal with it pretty well, find ways to deal with it.

Interviewer  02:04

Are they like, okay with it? Are they mean? Does the school have a club or group to support LGBTQ youth?

Student #2  02:07

I think they're okay with it. They're open with it. They chose to be that way they like it.

School Staffer  02:18

Yeah.

Interviewer  02:19

Like to elaborate?

School Staffer  02:20

It's sponsored by the school nurse. It's held once a week for lunch.

Student  02:25

Yeah. We do.

Student #2  02:26

No, our school's too small.

Mental Health Video Transcript

Four students are being interviewed. The first student is facing the camera. Student #2 is a female facing the camera. Student #3 is a female hiding her face with her hand. Student #4 is a female turning her back from the camera, facing the wall.

Interviewer  00:03

How do you define mental health?

Student  00:05

 It's a person's emotional and mental state of well being like if they're in a place with themselves, where they're like comfortable and happy with themselves, different levels of it.

Student #2  00:24

Mental health... It's something that which, in your brain, something is wrong. It's not necessarily the person's fault, but it's the mentality itself is trying to, how do you say, I don't know, corrupt itself, is how I would say it.

Student #3  00:48

Mental health. It has to do with emotions, like how you're feeling, and if you feel stable enough to work.

Student #4  01:01

It's like you have a mental problem like a dyslexia, or like, (inaudible).

Interviewer  01:09

Do you feel that teen mental health is a big issue?

Student  01:12

Definitely. I mean, right now, we're at a stage of our lives where we're shifting and influenced more than any other time in our lives. And I mean, you're the things that you believe about yourself and about like the world around you. Like as you grow up with those, like the longer and longer you think certain things, whether about yourself or whatever else, like, the longer they stick with you. So I think a teenager's mental health is super important in developing them as a person.

Student #2  01:44

I say yes, because there's a lot of stress that teens go through, more these days. They have school, now they have to actually work. They have to, you know, they have siblings, they have family, they have a lot of things that they have to go through. So it's a big issue.

Student #3  02:01

An issue where?

Interviewer  02:02

Just a big issue in the school.

Student #3  02:05

Mental Health? I don't know. I mean, possibly.

Student #4  02:10

Yeah. Sometimes. No, all the time. Because like, mental health, like in general, like it's, it's very, like serious.

Interviewer  02:25

If you notice a student or faculty member showing signs of mental health problems, do you feel that you would know how to respond or get help?

Student  02:31

I mean, definitely not. They always tell you to go for help, especially in certain situations. But I think with the stigma around mental health issues and peer pressure, and lots of people choose not to come forward with those types of issues. I mean, they can recognize them and see them. And there's, you know, the posters on the wall saying you need help with a simple 1741 number. But there's so many different stigmas around it that I don't think teens feel comfortable coming forward with stuff like that.

Interviewer  03:05

What would you do? Like, do you think you'd go to somebody or?

Student  03:10

I don't think I would, I think I mean, I know that... I mean, maybe I would, but I think it's just a really difficult thing to do. Because you know, if you have a cut on your arm, it's bleeding, you know, that you need to bandage it, but mental diseases and stuff like that, they are so much harder to identify and to accept that it makes it really difficult for a person to come to grips with and really go to look for help. So I don't know if I would or not.

Student #2  03:42

I don't know if I'd be able to respond or help them in ways because sometimes you can't notice certain health, mental health problems. But the best thing, if you, if you are able to notice is just to try to refer them to someplace where, you know, they can try to get maybe some help or some tests to see if they actually have any mental health problems.

Student #3  04:05

No, because I don't think anyone is really prepared for anything like that.

Student #4  04:10

I would probably know how to respond because I have like relatives who have like, like mental problems. Yeah. Kind of.

Interviewer  04:21

What would you do?

Student #4  04:23

Like I would try to like collaborate with that person. Like, how, see what they're going through, (inaudible).

Interviewer  04:39

Do you or someone you know have a mental health issue?

Student  04:42

Yes.

Interviewer  04:44

How has this impacted you or them in the school?

Student  04:47

I mean, I have members of my family that have suffered from different mental health issues, and it's it's crazy impact. I mean, especially if you love someone that doesn't know how to love themselves. It definitely changes how you look at everyone around you. I mean, it's an emotional topic but like it totally affects my school life, my home life and everything around it. Just a person's ability to focus on their work and how they walk into a school bathroom and look in the mirror and like keep themselves and how that infiltrates their day. Like, it totally changes how I think just walking around day to day.

Student #2  05:38

I actually have multiple family members, I had a cousin who stopped growing at age of, I think it was physically she continued growing by mentality, she stayed at the age of about five. But she passed away when she was 16. And then my aunt has Alzheimer's that was just recently found out but she's pretty advanced. And her son also had a mental defect when he was born. So that's why I chose this topic to talk about it because it's impacted a lot of family members. Even if we're not as close as we are, you know, they're in California or Mexico but we still get affected by it because we know what they're going through and you know how we need to help them and be able to keep them at a happy life even if they have a mental disability.

Student #3  06:32

Yeah.  How has it impacted you or them in school? Grades drop and then people think you're not doing well because you're not trying hard enough but your hardest that you're trying isn't, just doesn't does it or the hardest that you're trying isn't what they assume is the best.  Yeah, I have my cousin. She has like Asperger's and sometimes she doesn't really like knows how to interact with other people. Because of like finality wise. Like because sometimes she would repeat a word and I could tell people making fun of her and it kind of makes me mad.

School Safety Video Transcript

One male student is being interviewed, facing the camera.

Interviewer  00:03

Do you feel safe at school? Why or why not?

Student  00:05

Kind of. Why? Because there's some ignorant people at school, there's always the ignorant people and smart people.

Interviewer  00:14

Have you ever felt unsafe at school? Why? Why not? And did you ever miss school because of this?

Student  00:22

Like, not in this school, but another school like, eighth grade. This guy was bullying me like for a long time. So I didn't really want to go to school. But yeah.

Interviewer  00:33

What do you think is the biggest issue regarding school safety?

Student  00:37

The biggest issue is bullying, obviously.

Interviewer  00:39

Do you think that students feel safe, as though they're in a safe environment? Why or why not?

Student  00:47

Why do I feel like they're in a safe environment? Yeah, it kind of depends on the person.

Interviewer  00:53

What do you think can be changed at the school regarding safety?

Student  00:58

More surveillance, I guess you could say like more teachers around to watch students.

Interviewer  01:04

What do you think the school is doing well to maintain safety?

Student  01:09

Reminding everyone that we are one, we are as one in this whole school, we're not individual, we work as one, we go to school as one. Yeah.

Interviewer  01:19

What can you and others do to help make the school safer?

Student  01:25

When you ever see something, someone being bullied or ever see something that's wrong, you report it to the teacher.

Interviewer  01:32

On a scale of one to 10, being the most unsafe at school in Colorado, and 10 being the safest school in Colorado. Where do you think our school falls?

Student  01:44

Probably like a 7, 7.5

Teen Driving Safety Video Transcript

Four students re being interviewed. All are males and are facing the camera.

Interviewer  00:03

What are your opinions about teen driving safety,

Student  00:06

I feel like a lot of people don't really take it seriously. And once they get that license, they just kind of drive however they want to try to show off and it leads to reckless driving.

Student #2  00:18

I think it's a problem because many teens aren't experienced drivers. And it puts them and others at risk.

Student #3  00:28

The thing about teen driving safety is that I understand the laws of why teens and underage children cannot drive into the knowledge of driving. And also, I do have some disagreement, because you can learn at a young age, but I do understand where they're coming from.

Student #4  00:49

I feel like a lot of kids these days, like are on their phones and distracted by their friends and stuff. So I feel like bringing that distraction level down, would cause a lot less accidents and problems. Because like, three people here have gotten tickets in the past semester, and dangerous stuff. I think that, does that answer your question?

Interviewer  01:14

It answers my question. Do you feel that students are safe on the road?

Student  01:20

I feel that some students are safe on the road, while others have the mentality that they need to be show offs rather than responsible.

Student #2  01:28

I think they're pretty safe. Because I don't know, they just seem pretty safe.

Interviewer  01:34

I thought you just said that you didn't think this. You didn't think they seem that safe.

Student #2  01:39

I mean, I think that it's a problem, but they seem pretty safe.

Student #3  01:42

I feel like students are not safe on the road. Because many adults who have the knowledge of driving and have experience are still getting killed in this road by drunk drivers. I think it would just be more harmful if you have children out there driving because what if the child is out there driving without the experience? They might get in a car crash.

Student #4  02:03

Oh, yeah. Okay, so I feel like the roads are always kind of dangerous, especially here because there's like deer, and animals and just ice especially now. And so I feel like safety is always kind of it's like there, but it's also not there. So like, I feel like it's dangerous. But student driving is a little bit more dangerous because of the distractions.

Interviewer  02:28

Do you think that there are students here who drive under the influence?

Student  02:33

Yes.

Interviewer  02:34

Why?

Student  02:35

Because I've had them tell me that they have.

Student #2  02:41

Probably yes.

Interviewer  02:42

Why do you think that?

Student #2  02:43

Because in most high schools, there are teenagers that make bad decisions. And that is one of the decisions that they make.

Student #3  02:50

It wouldn't shock me. I would say that, I hope not. But knowing the population that we have here and the type of kids that we have in CPA and the environment that we live in, I would say there's probably a few.

Student #4  03:12

Yes.

Interviewer  03:13

Why?

Student #4  03:15

Because I've seen it from a distance. Well, I don't know if they are students, well they are students. And I know they do. There's like two that I know for sure. They used to, I don't know if they do anymore.

Interviewer  03:30

Would you feel safe driving in a student's car?

Student  03:33

Depending on the student, yes.

Interviewer  03:35

Why?

Student  03:36

Because some students are responsible, whereas some are just awful drivers.

Interviewer  03:41

How do you differentiate between unsafe drivers and safe drivers?

Student  03:45

Well, if they're intoxicated, or under the influence of anything in any way, I don't feel safe and when I see people driving down the road to try to like show off by doing stuff and not pay attention, swerving inbetween the lines, that makes not want to ride with them. But then there's people who just drive and pay attention, grab with two hands and they're smart.

Student #2  04:03

I feel Iike I would be pretty safe. I'd trust them.

Interviewer  04:12

What if it's illegal to drive with them?

Student #2  04:15

Then I would not feel okay with that.

Student #3  04:19

I would not feel safe driving in a student's car because I don't know if they have insurance on the car. I don't know if they even have a driver's license or permit. And we don't have an adult (inaudible) if we're get in danger.

Student #4  04:32

Depending on the student, yeah.

Interviewer  04:33

Okay, why?

Student #4  04:34

Because I feel like if I'm in the car, I can direct my ideas of not being distracted through like phones and stuff. And then like if they're if they get on their phone be like, no, put that down. And then I don't get in the car with the people that are smoking the reefer right before they drive me somewhere. I'll just, I'll walk, I'm good.

Interviewer  04:57

How often do you think students are driving distracted?

Student  05:05

I think some students drive distracted more often than they drive while they're not distracted. But the responsible students, I'd say drive distracted very minimally.

Interviewer  05:16

Why?

Student  05:17

Because those who are responsible realize that when you're driving, you're in like several thousand pounds piece of metal that's going like 50 miles an hour, and you could die instantly. So they're pretty cautious.

Student #2  05:28

I think cell phones and other distractions are a pretty big problem also. So pretty often.

Student #3  05:35

I think they're distracted a lot. Social media is a big thing. They can get distracted by text messages, Facebook, anything. I think it's a big distraction.

Student #4  05:45

I think that also depends on the student. But if I had to put it to a percentage. It's hard because some people I just like every time I see them in their car, they're on their phone, and then some people, they're not on their phone in their car at all. So it's kind of hard to say. But I know that there's some people that are more than others, and some people that are less.

Interviewer  06:10

Do you think there are enough teen driving safety programs for students in the school? Why or why not?

Student  06:16

Um, no, because our school doesn't really offer anything to teach you how to drive safely. Like we just don't have access to any of that, really for those who need it.

Student #2  06:27

I don't think so. Because I haven't heard of one. So definitely not enough.

Interviewer  06:31

Have you done any team or safety driving classes?

Student #2  06:34

I have actually, I've done a driving class, but not specifically for safety.

Student #3  06:40

I don't think so. I haven't seen any.

Student #4  06:45

Do we even have any student safety driving program? Because we did have that one thing where the people came in and talk to us. I feel like that was good. I feel like we have, I know it's there. I just, I feel like we have enough. Because I know, I don't know if people will even listen to those people. But at the same time, I feel like it's just a few people that are, that are doing the bad stuff when they're driving.

Interviewer  07:17

Right. And are you a driver?

Student #4  07:19

I'm not a driver. I'm a passenger.

Interviewer  07:22

Okay. Thank

Student #4  07:23

I drive a bike.

Teen Pregnancy Video Transcript

Four students are being interviewed. All are facing the camera. The first student is a male. Student #2 is a female. Student #3 is a male. Student #4 is a female.

Interviewer  00:00

Do you know if this school had any teen pregnancies?

Student  00:06

Yeah, I think.

Student #2  00:07

I feel like we don't.

Student #3  00:10

I don't know.

Student #4  00:11

I have no idea. I don't think so.

Interviewer  00:17

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the US has had record lows in teen births. Do you think that teaching students about safe sex has had an influence in this? Why or why not?

Student #2  00:25

So they know what the consequences are.

Student #3  00:29

No, because they can do what they want, so it's just them, not the talks.

Interviewer  00:33

You don't think that the safe talk safety talks scare anybody? Like, from having sex?

Student #3  00:39

Sometimes, but those people are usually not going to do it, so.

Student #4  00:45

Um, yes. Because, a lot of people don't know about it. Because sometimes people think it's stupid, like, yeah, I know how to use a condom, this and that, but some people don't. And it's actually really surprising how many people don't know about the things that can happen.

Student  01:05

A lot of commercials.

Interviewer  01:09

How do you think the media has influenced the low rates of teen pregnancy?

Student #2  01:12

Probably made it seem like it's a really bad thing.

Interviewer  01:16

Do you see advertisements that make it seem less acceptable?

Student #2  01:21

Yeah.

Student #3  01:24

I don't know, just not promoting it.

Student #4  01:29

Maybe it's you, because I've had like friends that I've known for a long time. And then they pop up, like, right away, like a post on Facebook. Oh, I'm pregnant. And I'm just like, well, and so I guess if people see people that have gotten that, how it's changed their lives, and they'll know to be more safe.

Interviewer  01:50

What does this school do to educate students about healthy relationships, safe sex, pregnancy?

Student  02:01

I think there's counseling.

Student #2  02:03

We have a ninth grade health class, and we have people come and talk to us about it. Once a year.

Student #3  02:11

Can you say that again please?

Student #4  02:14

Well, no PDA is allowed. And I know that there's a health class that I'm sure goes over that. But I'm a freshman. So I don't take that class.

Interviewer  02:22

Do you think schools have the right to teach students about practicing safe sex?

Student  02:28

I guess if the student wants to learn it.

Student #2  02:31

Yeah.

Student #3  02:33

Yeah.

Student #4  02:35

Yes, definitely for sure.

Interviewer  02:37

How do you think the students at this school would react if students were to become pregnant?

Student  02:43

It depends on the personality.

Student #2  02:46

I feel like we'd be supportive.

Interviewer  02:50

Yeah? Do you think would be judgmental and rude about it?

Student #2  02:56

Yeah.

Student #3  02:58

Very shocked and probably make fun of them. I don't know.

Interviewer  03:04

Why do you think that?

Student #3  03:05

Because they're, I don't know.

Interviewer  03:08

You don't think you would be accepting of it?

Student #3  03:10

No.

Student #4  03:14

It'd be pretty crazy. This school is really small, like it'd be insane. It would be crazy.

Interviewer  03:21

What resources does the school have for youth who become pregnant?

Student  03:29

Counselors.

Student #2  03:33

I don't really know.

Student #3  03:34

No, I don't think so.

Student #4  03:38

We have the Health Care Center.

Youth & Adult Connectedness Video Transcript

One male student is being interviewed, facing the camera.

Interviewer  00:00

Okay, now we're gonna talk about youth and adult connectedness. What does youth and adult connectedness mean to you?

Student  00:06

I think it means the way you connect with adults, or like, the way you get like close with your teachers or family members like maybe just connections with your friends.

Interviewer  00:28

Do you feel that youth and adult connectedness would be an important and effective safety feature? Why or why not?

Student  00:35

I think it would because if you're in danger, you would need somebody you can trust and go to, in time of need. And also think that if you're with somebody that you know and actually like have a good connection with I think you will feel more confident and they will feel more confident.

Interviewer  00:53

How connected do you feel with the adults in your school?

Student  00:58

I feel very connected. I know a lot of people are pretty safe here.

Interviewer  01:07

Do you see any downfalls to having connections between students and adults?

Student  01:13

I can see a couple downfalls, maybe with personal life, academic and just education in general. Maybe if you get too close with the teacher you might not be able to be on like the same like academic stages or with your parents.

Interviewer  01:31

Could youth and adult connectedness help teens with mental health issues?

Student  01:35

I think so because it'll make it easier for them to connect with somebody and actually like, share because maybe they might not want to tell everybody what's going on. So I think it'd be a good way for them to get closer.

Youth Employment Video Transcript

One male student is being interviewed, facing the camera.

Interviewer  00:03

What are your opinions about youth employment?

Student  00:07

That's cool if a person wants to.

Interviewer  00:12

Do you think there are a lot of students at the school who have jobs? Why or why not?

Student  00:19

Not really, I would say most of them have to wait till they're a certain age or something.

Interviewer  00:26

Do you think that students are prepared to find and get jobs? Why or why not?

Student  00:31

No. Because they don't know.

Interviewer  00:35

What kind of training do students need to get a job and choose a career?

Student  00:40

Training to (inaudible)

Binge Drinking | Community Involvement | LGBTQ | Mental Health | School Safety | Teen Driving Safety | Teen Pregnancy | Youth Adult Connectedness | Youth Employment

Contact the School Outreach Consultant for more information at 303-239-4533, 700 Kipling Street, Suite 1000 Lakewood, CO 80215