Healthy High-Five

The Dukes County Health Council Youth Task Force received a Healthy Communities award for its work engaging diverse resident participation and widespread community ownership.

The award was announced at the fifth annual Healthy Community Conference by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

The award was based on a nomination from Sarah Parmenter of Health Imperatives, who wrote that the Vineyard’s Youth Task Force has been an entirely community led effort from the beginning. It includes representation from police, town government, tribal government, schools, local business owners, youths, parents, youth serving organizations and the faith community. Plus, its leadership welcomes participation and ideas from across the community.

The Youth Task Force engages parents consistently through their youths’ teen years, organizing yearly Chat and Chowder conversations with middle school parents, a freshman parent social at the start of the school year, a junior parent dinner around prom time, and a lecture series.