Washington County Teens Lead the Way

Steve Health, Executive Director, FabNewport to Provide Keynote

The Washington County Coalition for Children (WCCC) is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Youth Mental Health Summit, a dynamic, youth-led event that highlights the power of teen voices in shaping mental wellness solutions in our communities. The summit will be held on Monday, May 19, 2025, from 6:00–8:00pm in Avedisian Hall – Room 170 at the University of Rhode Island (URI), main campus in Kingston, RI.

This year’s summit, “Cultivating Resilience: Youth-Led Solutions for Mental Wellness in Washington County,” highlights the talents, insight, and leadership of local teens, and is a cornerstone event of our local CenTEENial celebration, marking 100 years since the term “teenager” entered our cultural vocabulary.

“Too often, teens are portrayed as problems to be solved instead of partners in change,” said Susan Orban, LICSW, Director of WCCC. “The CenTEENial is about rewriting that story and recognizing teens as powerful, capable, and essential members of our communities.”

The summit will feature insightful youth-led presentations from high school students across Washington County, including Chariho, Narragansett, The Prout School, South Kingstown, Westerly, and North Kingstown. These teens will share the challenges faced by youth, as well as speak directly about what they need from the adults in their lives, such as trusted relationships, inclusive and youth-driven spaces, and support systems that respect their voices and experiences. Attendees will also hear from keynote speaker Steve Heath, Executive Director of FabNewport, who will explore the importance of creating environments where teens can lead, connect, and thrive. The event will bring together a diverse mix of parents, educators, coaches, youth leaders, mental health providers, town officials, and young people for an evening of meaningful listening, shared learning, and intergenerational collaboration.

“These students are mental health leaders in their schools. They are all part of a Peer-to-Peer program educating their fellow students and advocating for an improved mental health culture in their schools and communities,” said Mark Collins, Executive Director of The Chris Collins Foundation. “Their additional work on the Youth Advisory Council planning and leading the Youth Mental Health Summit is remarkable. They are teen mental health superheroes,” added Collins.

The CenTEENial ‘Year of the Teen’ offers communities nationwide the opportunity to celebrate teen voices, promote youth leadership, and break outdated stereotypes. “With over 42 million teens in the U.S., and thousands right here in Rhode Island, the time is now to listen, support, and celebrate this generation,” said Orban.

“The Youth Mental Health Summit is about more than raising awareness,” said Sue K. Adams PhD, Chair of the WCCC Children’s Mental Health Advisory Board. “It is about action. Teens are telling us what they need to feel heard and supported. Our goal is for adults to learn how to support teens in achieving their goals while encouraging independence,” noted Adams.

The Summit is free and open to the public, with pre-registration encouraged at https://YMHSummit.eventbrite.com.

Download event flyer here.

For questions about the Summit, contact Susan Orban at wccc@washcokids.org.