Youth Action Team of Newton County: Leading the Way from Local Schools to the National Capitol
June 9, 2025 - The Youth Action Team (YAT) — a youth-led program of Newton Community Partnership (NCP) — has had a powerhouse spring, earning honors and making an impact at the local, state, and national levels.
In May 2025, the Newton County Board of Commissioners issued an official Proclamation declaring May as Mental Health Awareness Month, recognizing YAT’s leadership in mental wellness and prevention. YAT member Francisco Alvarado, a local high school student, addressed the Board and the community, reminding residents that recovery can happen and help is available.
But their influence didn’t stop there.
This spring, YAT members were invited to the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) Provider Meeting in Augusta. Three students served on a youth panel and hosted a mini Kick the Habit experience — an interactive prevention event they designed to address relationship violence, vaping, and alcohol use. These student-led efforts are part of their regular work in Newton County schools, where YAT plans and runs full-scale Kick the Habit events each spring and leads community outreach during Red Ribbon Week each fall.
National recognition followed, as Francisco Alvarado joined a national youth panel at the 2025 CADCA National Leadership Forum, showcasing Newton County’s student-driven prevention strategies to coalitions from across the country.
Leadership That Lasts
Even after graduation, our youth stay involved. Former YAT students helped launch Resilient Hearts, a mental health advocacy group at Oxford College of Emory University. Supported by NCP, this student-led group presented at Suicide Prevention Day at the Georgia State Capitol in March — proving that the leadership skills built in YAT go well beyond high school.
What is NCP?
Newton Community Partnership (NCP) is a local nonprofit dedicated to building a healthier, more resilient community through youth empowerment, family support, and prevention education. Programs like YAT help students become leaders, changemakers, and advocates for their peers.
How to Get Involved
YAT is active year-round — and they’re just getting started. Watch for pop-up park events this summer, or get involved in time for Red Ribbon Week this fall.
Have a high school student who wants to join? We’d love to meet them.
Want to support the mission? Volunteer, donate, or collaborate with us.
Stay connected:
👉 Visit www.newtonpartnership.org for contact info, program details, and ways to get involved
👉 Follow @newtoncommunitypartnership on Facebook and Instagram
👉 Follow @newtoncountyyat for youth-led updates and events
We are so proud of our youth — their passion, their leadership, and their impact. From Newton County classrooms to the State Capitol and national coalitions, YAT is showing what’s possible when you trust teens to lead.