The Sacramento County Youth Advisory Board is established for the following reasons:
A. 
To develop and empower a diverse group of youth to use their voices and talents to improve their community and advise policy leaders on what is needed to create a youth-friendly behavioral health community, including mental health as well as substance use prevention and treatment;
B. 
To increase youth voices and engagement in the development and implementation of policies, practices, and programs that impact the behavioral health and wellbeing of Sacramento County youth up to age twenty-four, through;
1. 
Direct input and feedback regarding the behavioral health and wellness needs of youth to the Board of Supervisors and other public agencies, committees, and coalitions, and
2. 
Engagement with public agencies and other related committees and workgroups;
C. 
To expand the number of trusted peer-to-peer messengers around youth behavioral health and wellbeing;
D. 
To increase the community of youth with skills to:
1. 
Understand formal behavioral health systems,
2. 
Discuss and describe behavioral health and wellbeing,
3. 
Advocate for a youth friendly, culturally-relevant behavioral health and wellness system of supports,
4. 
Envision and promote a youth-friendly behavioral health community; and
E. 
To engage the public and other community-based youth groups within Sacramento County and its cities to develop a youth advocacy agenda around behavioral health and wellness.
(SCC 1675 § 1, 2021)
As used in this chapter, the following words have the following meanings:
1. 
"Board" means the Sacramento County Behavioral Health Youth Advisory Board.
2. 
"Member" means a person appointed as a member of the Board.
(SCC 1675 § 1, 2021)
The Board shall consist of ten members who shall be appointed as follows:
A. 
Two youth members between the ages of fourteen and twenty-four to be appointed from each County Supervisory District by the Board of Supervisors for a total of 10 members so appointed. Any members so appointed may be removed by the Board of Supervisors.
B. 
Appointment of members shall reflect the diversity of the community including, but not limited to, individuals who are low income; gender and racially diverse; are involved or familiar with the county system relating to mental health, child welfare, and juvenile justice; have a passion for youth mental health and wellness; and are willing to advocate for multiple youth voices.
(SCC 1675 § 1, 2021)
The term of office for members of the Youth Advisory Board shall be for two years; provided that when the first 10 members are appointed, five shall serve one year and five shall serve two years, in order that terms of the members shall be staggered. Determination of the length of the terms of the initial members of the advisory board shall be by lot, or any other method the members of the advisory board may agree.
(SCC 1675 § 1, 2021)
Within 60 days after the appointment of the members of the Board, they shall meet and/organize by electing from their members a chairperson and a secretary who shall hold office for one calendar year.
(SCC 1675 § 1, 2021)
The Board shall hold regular meetings at least once a month, at a time and place selected by majority vote of the entire membership, with additional meetings as determined by the members.
(SCC 1675 § 1, 2021)
A. 
The Board of Supervisors shall fill such vacancy occurring among the members which appoints.
B. 
The position of any member who fails to attend, in succession, three or more regular meetings, without the approval of the majority of the members of the Board, shall automatically become vacant.
(SCC 1675 § 1, 2021)
The duties of the Board shall be as follows:
A. 
To recommend and advocate for youth-led policy, practices, and programs to improve behavioral health and wellness outcomes to the Department of Health Services and to the County Board of Supervisors;
B. 
To provide feedback and input to the public agencies, committees, and coalitions regarding policies, practices, and programs that directly or indirectly impact youth behavioral health and wellbeing;
C. 
To engage other youth in the Board's work, such as open meetings, youth input on the advocacy agenda, and work groups open to other youth;
D. 
To strengthen Board members' skills and knowledge around understanding of behavioral health and wellbeing, the systems that support this, and individual skills and tools to lead, implement, and drive systems of change effectively.
(SCC 1675 § 1, 2021)