TOPEKA — Students from Allen County high schools participated in Kansas Prevention Advocacy Day Thursday, joining over 100 young people from more than 12 school districts across the state.
They arrived at the Kansas Capitol with a clear goal: advocate for greater mental health awareness and resources.
Iola High School brought 11 youth, Humboldt traveled with two, and Marmaton Valley brought 13 students — an especially significant figure given the district’s entire high school has 56 students.
Staff from each high school traveled with the kids. Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center (SEKMHC) employees Jen Taylor, Rebecca Bilderback and Travis Buck were also present, as were Thrive Allen County’s Chi Wiggin and Iolan Sharla Miller, a longtime mental health advocate and founder of 13 Reasons to Fly.
Over 120 students from 12 school districts participated in Kansas Prevention Advocacy Day in Topeka Thursday. Photo by Tim Stauffer / Iola Register
After Miller helped organize two days of workshops for Allen County students last fall, SEKMHC agreed to fund the teen suicide prevention Zero Reasons Why program for Iola, Humboldt and Marmaton Valley districts. Buck is the glue that connects the three school districts’ Zero Reasons Why student groups and SEKMHC together, working as a Peer Mentor Lead to hold monthly Teen Council meetings and coordinate activities.
THE DAY began early, with students meeting at The Beacon, a venue about a minute’s walk from the Capitol, at around 8:30 a.m. Groups of students then peeled off for the main task of the day: meeting with legislators to make their case.
Marmaton Valley juniors Taylen Blevins and Emma Michael met with Representatives Shawn Chauncey of Junction City and Allen Reavis of Atchinson. Bilderback accompanied the two youth, coaching them on the walk to the representatives’ office.
The young women didn’t need much help. They quickly jumped into a conversation with the representatives about what Zero Reasons Why is, why mental health matters to them, and what young people need.
Rep. Chauncey seemed particularly interested in the girls’ opinion on a bill that would ban cell phones in schools during instructional time. The proposal, Senate Bill 302, has not yet advanced for a full Senate vote.
Chauncey was in favor of the idea, noting phones bring constant distractions into the classroom. Blevins and Michael tended to agree. The conversation turned to additional work the kids have done, including this fall’s Crest-Marmaton Valley football game, where a rivalry turned into a combined effort to expand mental health awareness. FFA chapters from the schools raised over $2,200, which they donated to SEKMHC.
After a photo with Rep. Chauncey, the girls walked — no, floated — out of the room, exhilarated by the opportunity to talk about something that mattered deeply to them.
STUDENTS met with elected officials throughout the day, often huddling in hallways to wait as aides, lobbyists and others scurried around.
Travis Buck, foreground, talks with students last Thursday during the start of Kansas Prevention Advocacy Day. In his role as Peer Mentor Lead, Buck serves as a liaison between the mental health center and Zero Reasons Why groups in Iola, Humboldt and Moran. Photo by Tim Stauffer / Iola Register
It was a hectic day at the Capitol. Most now seem to be that way while the legislature is in session, as a shorter calendar creates a frantic pace.
This year’s session is scheduled for just 55 days; the first adjournment vote is on March 27. If everything goes according to plan, this year’s session would break records; the 1970 session is the shortest in recent history at 62 days.
(A cynic would say that during an election year, perhaps legislators have other things on their minds. After all, Senate President Ty Masterson is running for governor, and the House Speaker is on the ballot for insurance commissioner.)
Yet many students seemed to thrive under the pressure, seizing the moment to make their case. Iola junior Ramon Ballin made a passionate plea to Senator Caryn Tyson, whose district includes Allen County.