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Who | Background | Contact | Download TAG Brochure (pdf)
 Southwest Community Health Center's Teen Advocacy Group (TAG) is an organization of Santa Rosa middle and high school youth who are involved in the community and concerned with teen health issues. TAG serves as an advisory group for SCHC to ensure that services are teen-friendly and meet the needs of community youth. TAG members are trained as peer health educators and they make presentations in classrooms about health services available to youth at Elsie Allen Health Center and SCHC's Teen Clinic. TAG is committed to creating a healthy and safe environment for youth in our community.
In addition to the work that TAG does for Southwest Community Health Center, the Teen Advocacy Group is also available to participate in activities that will further the youth's knowledge and skills in leadership, educational presentations and civic engagement and that will help the community to better understand teen issues and culture.
TAG members' objective is to become peer educators and contacts in the community, to work on activities that promote youth and involvement in health, and to critique the health education materials used for SCHC's weekly Teen Clinics on Wednesday afternoons and Saturdays. TAG is also responsible for promoting the Elsie Allen Health Center by doing presentations in classrooms on how to access EAHC services.
Who are TAG members?
 TAG members are teens who like to talk with people and who are interested in health and other youth issues. They commit two hours per week to volunteer in their community through SCHC (although usually put in many more hours that this), taking part in various projects the group chooses to be involved in.
The group meets weekly for discussion and planning. Members agree to follow self-imposed group rules and to promote the services of Elsie Allen Health Center as well as teen services provided at SCHC. They attend a peer health educator training each August before the school year begins to learn how to make effective presentations on preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections to their own peers. TAG members have the opportunity to participate in other kinds of training on an ongoing basis.
History and background of TAG
 SCHC health education and outreach staff member Abigail Barajas formed TAG in June 2002. Beginning with only three members, the group has grown to 20 members now.
"One of the greatest rewards of working with youth is the amount of energy and commitment they have. I have seen many teens bloom into responsible, self-confident adults knowledgeable about health, the importance of community involvement, and making a difference," Abigail says. "I have also seen teens completely turn their lives around when someone believes in them."
TAG's many activities, projects, and accomplishments range from public speaking to event organizing, fundraising, and feeding the homeless. Some of TAGs recent projects include:
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Supporting SCHC outreach staff who coordinate the annual Elsie Allen High School health fair with numerous community health agencies that set up booths and give out health information during lunch period. |
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Attending numerous community events and staffing a table with information to promote Southwest, Chanate, and Elsie Allen health centers. |
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Distributing bicycle helmets for some of the YMCA after-school programs and at a Burbank housing community. |
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Working with the City of Santa Rosa Mayor's Gang Task Force. TAG is part of a youth program, sponsored by the city and the Santa Rosa Police Department. |
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Participating in a project called "Path to Purpose - Teens Making a Difference" that includes a youth hosted dinner for the homeless and fundraising teen dance. |
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Attending a statewide training on preventing obesity in teens and affecting how health policy is made. |
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Participating in the annual Latino Health Forum to share the perspective of youth working in the community. |
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Surveying youth at Chops Youth Center to determine what topics they are interested in learning about to develop several health and social topics that teens will present at Chops. Several TAG members are now part of Chops program planning board. |
Contact information for TAG
For volunteers and health education presentations, contact:
Olivia Ortiz
707-547-2220 ext. 401
For membership and recruitment, contact:
Abigail Barajas
707-547-2220 ext. 400
For presentations about SCHC services such as teen clinics and Elsie Allen Health Center, and to inquire about making presentations to TAG, contact:
Alexandra Geary-Stock
707-547-2220 ext. 432
Download TAG request form » (pdf)
Download TAG brochure » (pdf)
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