2017 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 168
BY SENATOR BARROW
A RESOLUTION
To commend the service and contributions of Magellan Youth Leaders Inspiring Future
Empowerment (MY LIFE) and to recognize June 7, 2017, as MY LIFE Youth Day
at the Louisiana State Capitol.
WHEREAS, involving youth in the process of designing and delivering behavioral
health services is a relatively new practice, but it is becoming more widely accepted
following support from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) and other experts; and
WHEREAS, professionals are recognizing that involving youth in the systems that
serve them can improve outcomes for youth, helping them develop relationships, acquire
new skills, improve behavior, build self-confidence, instill positive social supports, and
cultivate leadership skills and they also have noted the value in providing opportunities for
youth to share their opinions and ideas to help shape policies, programs, and services for
their own care and for the broader community – youth involvement not only benefits the
individual youth involved, but can also be very beneficial to programs and systems that serve
youth; and
WHEREAS, to address this need, MY LIFE, a free community youth program for
youth between the ages of 13 and 23 years who have experience with mental health,
substance abuse, foster care-related and/or other challenges, was established in Arizona in
2008 by Magellan Health; and
WHEREAS, through regular meetings, special events, presentations, and
performances, MY LIFE members provide support for their peers; develop critical skills in
leadership, mentoring, and mental health resiliency; act as advisors to Magellan and local
officials to help improve services and systems that serve youth; and provide a much needed
voice in the community to combat the stigma associated with behavioral health issues; and
WHEREAS, there are currently fifteen MY LIFE groups in six states with more than
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five hundred youth regularly involved; and
WHEREAS, in July 2012, MY LIFE Louisiana was established by Magellan
Behavioral Health in Louisiana with the support of the Louisiana Behavioral Health
Partnership and other organizations with MY LIFE groups being established in Baton Rouge
and Shreveport, and since that time seventy-five monthly MY LIFE Louisiana meetings have
been held with an average of twenty-five youth attending each meeting; and
WHEREAS, in 2016, Magellan Health partnered with Ekhaya Youth Project to
enhance and expand MY LIFE in Louisiana, starting new MY LIFE groups in Lafayette and
New Orleans in April 2016, and groups serving other parts of the state soon to follow; and
WHEREAS, three previous MY LIFE Louisiana Youth Day at the capitol events
were held May 8, 2014, May 7, 2015, and May 5, 2016, in Baton Rouge, celebrating
National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day with over six hundred people taking part
in these uplifting events that included a youth empowerment rally on the capitol steps with
inspirational speeches by MY LIFE Youth and Louisiana state representatives and senators
with the events being featured on five television segments which aired on the local CBS
affiliate the days of the event; and
WHEREAS, the fourth annual MY LIFE Louisiana Youth Day at the capitol will be
held on Wednesday, June 7, 2017; and
WHEREAS, youth from around the state will be participating in this event that will
provide youth a truly unique hands-on educational experience to learn about our state
government process first hand by visiting the Louisiana State Capitol, interacting with state
legislators and participating in other activities, an event that is open to all Louisiana youth
and will not only be an educational and empowering experience for youth, but will also help
them to develop leadership skills, social skills, and greater self-confidence; and
WHEREAS, MY LIFE Louisiana programs and activities have flourished due to the
great support and partnerships of other youth serving organizations including Magellan
Health, Ekhaya Youth Project, Louisiana Behavioral Health Partnership, Family Youth and
Service Center, Goodwill of North Louisiana, Capitol Area Human Services, City Year,
Youth Oasis, Department of Juvenile Justice, Dream True, faith-based groups, and other
organizations.
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend the service and contributions of MY LIFE (Magellan Youth Leaders
Inspiring Future Empowerment) and does hereby recognize Wednesday, June 7, 2017, as
MY LIFE Youth Day at the Louisiana State Capitol.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to MY
LIFE.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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