By Quinn O’Hara

On March 20 and 26, several students from the Clay County YLinK chapters visited the Kansas State Capitol building to talk with legislators and representatives of major health organizations.

Clay County YLinK Organizer Lori Martin said their first visit included Clay County YLinK Representatives Reagann McDonald, Izzy Blackwood, Alessia Carrales, and Braylee Langvardt, who discussed their community efforts through YLinK to the Governor’s Behavioral Health Committee.

The second visit was delayed several hours due to weather, said Martin, causing them to miss their scheduled meeting. However, Gary Henault, the State Director of Youth and Prevention Services with KDADS, saw the group and quickly organized an impromptu meeting with the Wakefield and Clay Center High School YLinK Representatives.

Martin said the information and personal experience the Clay County YLinK Representatives shared will be used to inform future legislation and decisions addressing the youth mental health crisis in Kansas.