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The Youth Health Centre (YHC) at Citadel High School recently hosted some special guests: Nova Scotia Health interim-President and CEO, Karen Oldfield and Minister of Health and Wellness, Michelle Thompson. They were joined by Public Health leadership, including Senior Director, Marcia DeSantis and Central Zone Director, Shelley Radford and Youth Health Centre Coordinators (YHCC), Erin Poirier, Lorraine Gavin and Vicki Caines.
Youth Health Centres are designated youth-friendly spaces offered by Public Health in high schools across the province. The coordinators offer guidance and support to students, champion youth health and health equity, facilitate youth engagement and support healthy school environments. At Citadel High, this includes supporting the Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and Guys Group, fostering a strong sense of belonging. This plays an important role in shifting the culture at the school to be more inclusive and welcoming to all students.
During the visit, GSA and Guys Group members were happy to articulate why the YHC is so important to them, including the value of the program in their school and the impact to health, wellness and learning for themselves and other students.
"It was a privilege to be able to meet and speak with both the CEO and Minister of Health. I hope our discussion increased the awareness of the issues queer students and young people are facing in schools and in the healthcare world. I hope to inspire our leaders to work hard to turn and face these challenges,” said Maren MacDonald, a grade 12 student and member of the Citadel GSA.
Said Oldfield, “Students Emma, Mica, Maren, Peter, Alex and Alistar warmly welcomed us and immediately made us feel at home in their space. Through the YHC, they’ve formed a community that’s without judgement and has built their confidence. I’m grateful they’ve shared their stories with us.”
Student voices are essential to showing why Public Health services are so important in schools and communities. The students spoke about the incredible sense of belonging that has been fostered by the YHC and its positive impact on the culture of the school. One student shared his experience going to Poirier for one-to-one support, and the significance of that support to his success at school.
“The visit provided a valuable look at the work and impact of Public Health in schools,” said DeSantis. “We are proud of our work across the province, which much of the time happens behind the scenes. It’s very gratifying to see how students related to the YHCC in their school, and to hear how their lives and the school culture have been made better by this service.”
Youth Health Centres are part of a broader scope of work under Health Promoting Schools, which encompasses all Public Health-related work that helps to foster healthy, inclusive, and vibrant school communities that enable everyone to learn, grow, thrive and succeed. Learn more about the important work taking place at Youth Health Centres across the province.
Photo of Nova Scotia Health CEO, Minister of Health and Wellness, Youth Health Centre Coordinators, provincial and Central Zone Public Health leaders with Citadel High School students.