PICKENS COUNTY — The Behavioral Health Services of Pickens County Youth Board recently participated in its annual Leadership Training at Bonclarken Conference Center in Flat Rock, N.C.

The Pickens County Youth Board has adopted the model of One Voice Youth Empowerment from Dover Youth2Youth in Dover, N.H. The model helps to train student leaders to gain knowledge about substance abuse, acquire skills such as public speaking, and then take action to combat the misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

Youth Board members began training in the model over the course of the weekend, and training will continue throughout the school year.

Guest speakers included author and motivational speaker Raven Magwood, who spoke to the students about the “3D’s of Success” and David Griffin, who spoke to students about his career in law enforcement.

Other guest speakers were brought in to teach a class on prescription drugs, marijuana, alcohol, and tobacco. A panel of past Youth Board members spoke to current members about how important the program was to them and how it helped them throughout college and into their professional careers.

Students were broken up into groups and researched data from surveys done in their schools to choose a substance that their group wanted to tackle. Students made plans to address these issues in the future.

The training was held Aug. 12 through Aug. 14.

The Pickens County Youth Board consists of 20 middle and high school students from across Pickens County: Juan Burgess, Ashley Clark, Krista Just, Savannah Perry, and Reagan Turner from Pickens High School; Julia Dandeneau, Aleah Gramblin, Jordan Hendrix, Quentin Kominiarek, and Makenzye Patterson from Easley High School; NaAdrian Mayes from Gettys Middle School; Britton Blackwell and Cal Finley from Liberty High School; and Skylar Grant, Victoria Hudson, Mac Kerswell, Fiona Newell, Kay O’Roy, and Alexis Willis from Daniel High School.

Also attending were Cathy Breazeale, director of Prevention Services; Jessica Gibson, Youth Board coordinator and prevention specialist; Alexander Dukes, prevention specialist; and Ryan Breazeale, college staff.

Call Gibson at 864-898-5800 for more information.

The Pickens County Youth Board has adopted the model of One Voice Youth Empowerment from Dover Youth2Youth in Dover, N.H. The model helps to train student leaders to gain knowledge about substance abuse, acquire skills such as public speaking, and then take action to combat the misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_bhspcyouthboard.jpgThe Pickens County Youth Board has adopted the model of One Voice Youth Empowerment from Dover Youth2Youth in Dover, N.H. The model helps to train student leaders to gain knowledge about substance abuse, acquire skills such as public speaking, and then take action to combat the misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Courtesy photo

Staff Report