Fredericksburg City Public Schools (FCPS) students and staff were honored at the Virginia General Assembly for their work on the FCPS Youth Mental Health Taskforce. The delegation, invited by State Senator Tara Durant, spent the day in Richmond serving as legislators and meeting with state officials.
The students arrived at the Virginia General Assembly Building at 9:45 a.m. January 29, 2025, where they met with Senator Durant before touring the historic Capitol. They then participated in a Q&A session with legislators, discussing the importance of youth mental health initiatives.
At noon, the students and staff were formally recognized on the Senate and House floors, receiving a resolution honoring their contributions to youth mental health awareness. The FCPS Youth Mental Health Taskforce was first introduced during the 10th Superintendent Roundtable on November 14, 2024, and has since worked to expand mental health support and advocacy for students.
This experience provided students an opportunity to engage in the legislative process and see how their voices can influence policy.
“As the learning ground for the future of earth, schools must add mental health to their learning to ensure a future that is not only medically advanced, but mentally as well,” said Allan Perry, a sixth grade student, via a press release.
“As many know, the current youth mental health crisis affects nearly every student, classroom, and school system in America. However, the most effective way to address this crisis is by going straight to the youth themselves. While adults do a lot of great work to assist with this crisis, the most innovative and successful solutions are often found through student experience,” addded Elizabeth Furrow, 12th grade.
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