Sent,
Dear 4-H Members and Families,
2021-22 Healthy Texas Youth Ambassador Program Announcement
The Healthy Texas Youth Ambassador program is seeking motivated, passionate, and hard-working teens to improve the lives of Texans! Do you have teens in your county who are looking to make a difference in their health and the health of others? If so, the HEALTHY TEXAS YOUTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM is the perfect opportunity for them to become trained in health, wellness, and safety while helping you grow your local program efforts!
This program is designed for high school age youth (grades 9-12) who have a passion for health and wellness. These youth will be trained at the regional level to become youth health experts who can motivate others to make a change in their lifestyle to improve their health. More importantly, these ambassadors will assist local county extension agents with program efforts, project activities, and much more! Healthy Texas Youth Ambassadors are the boots on the ground component of peer education!
Who’s Eligible?
Youth do not have to be current 4-H members but must join 4-H for the 2021-22 year. Agents are encouraged to look beyond the 4-H program and recruit youth from local school health advisory committees, health science programs, high school culinary arts programs, home school associations, community and church groups, and other youth organizations.
Eligibility requirements include:
- Be in at least the 9th grade at beginning of the 2021-2022 school year.
- Submit online application by May 1, 2021 (https://agrilife.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3RisvLKymQZoPps )
- Have an interest and passion to serve others in health education which includes nutrition, physical activity, passenger safety, and safe environments!
What does the program entail?
After online applications are received, these will be sent directly to the county Extension agent for them to review and select the youth they wish to serve in the program. Once youth are accepted to the program, they must fulfill the following obligations:
- Complete and report 40 hours of leadership, program efforts, or community service annually.
- Attend a Regional Healthy Texas Youth Ambassador Summit in a location nearest to them.
- Attend face-to-face and online trainings
- Agree to the obligations and requirements outlined in the HTYA Handbook.
- New and returning ambassadors MUST complete a new application annually.
- Complete activities, goals, and commitments with excellence!
For more detailed description of requirements and expectations, agents should review the 2021-22 Healthy Texas Youth Ambassador Handbook.
What is the cost?
Currently, there is no application fee for this program; however, selected ambassadors will be required to pay the estimated registration fee of $75-$100 for the regional Healthy Texas Youth Ambassador Summit. Ambassadors selected will be responsible for any travel costs related to this or other trainings established by the county extension agent or regional Healthy Texas Youth Ambassador Team. Actual program cost will vary from county to county and be dependent on activities and trainings offered.
Interested youth should complete the online application at: https://agrilife.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3RisvLKymQZoPps no later than May 1. Once online applications are received, these will be sent directly to the county Extension agent for review and selection of the youth they wish to serve in the program. Those selected will be expected to attend one of the regional trainings listed in the HTYA handbook and below. Locations and registration processes of trainings will be announced later.
Central Region — July 16
East Region — July 22
North Region — July 26
South Region — July 20
Southeast Region — July 21
West Region — June 30
If you would like to find out more on the program, you may view the recent HTYA Update at: https://youtu.be/mVEdhMeDTFc or contact Dr. Julie Gardner at julie.gardner@ag.tamu.edu
Julie Gardner, PhD
Extension Specialist – Healthy Lifestyles
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Mailing Address: Texas 4-H Youth Development, 2473 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843
Physical Address: 1470 William D Fitch Parkway, College Station, TX 77845
Phone: 979.321.5332
Email: julie.gardner@ag.tamu.edu