ICYMI: Readout of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs visit to St. Louis, MO

On April 3, 2024, staff from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Regional 7 and the HHS Office of Population Affairs (OPA) attended a youth rally sponsored by Better Family Life (a Teen Pregnancy Prevention program grantee) and participated in a roundtable discussion on adolescent health.

More than 20 schools and 3,000 middle and high school youth from across St. Louis, MO and East St. Louis, IL gathered at the St. Louis University Chaifetz Arena for an inspiring youth empowerment rally.  HHS Region 7 Director Joe Palm and Deputy Assistant Secretary Jessica Swafford Marcella attended the rally and DASPA Marcella spoke briefly to the young people.

After the rally, DASPA Marcella participated in a roundtable discussion on adolescent health issues, including OPA’s Take Action for Adolescents: A Call to Action for Adolescent Health and Well-Being.  The 35 participants included teachers, school administrators, and other youth-serving adults, as well as young people.

Roundtable participants discussed the concerns about adolescent health. These topics included community and school safety, school violence; and the need for youth programs, job opportunities, creative spaces, education and resources for parents, after school programming, culturally responsive education, leadership opportunities for youth, and safe spaces with loving and concerned staff. The group also voiced the need for ensuring that federal resources reach communities in need.

“It was so inspiring to meet the youth of St. Louis and East St. Louis today and learn about their hopes for the future,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary Marcella.  “Take Action for Adolescents: A Call to Action for Adolescent Health and Well-Being was created to inspire community collaboration to build a healthier future for all young people and help those dreams become a reality.”