WHEREAS, the mission of the San Francisco Health Commission includes deliberating on matters pertaining to the preservation, promotion and protection of the lives, health and mental health of San Francisco residents; and,

WHEREAS, the Health Commission is interested in hearing the opinions and perspectives of youth when deliberating on such matters; and,

WHEREAS, the Health Commission has established Joint Conference Committees, which are forums for open, thoughtful discussions between Health Commissioners and Department of Public Health staff, allow Health Commissioners to provide input to DPH staff on issues that will subsequently be presented to the Health Commission, monitor quality assurance and review financial information; and,

WHEREAS, the Health Commission wishes to formalize youth participation in the Population Health and Prevention Joint Conference Committee through the appointment of a Youth Health Advisor(s); and,

WHEREAS, the purpose of the Population Health and Prevention Youth Health Advisor(s) is to identify and advise the concerns and needs of the children and youth in San Francisco, provide feedback to the Health Commissioners regarding children and youth health issues and advise the Department of Public Health on matters affecting children and youth; and,

WHEREAS, the Population Health and Prevention Youth Health Advisor(s) shall report to the Health Commission on matters relating to children and youth on an annual basis at the time the Annual Adolescent Health Plan is presented to the Health Commission; and,

WHEREAS, the Population Health and Prevention Joint Conference Committee Youth Health Advisor(s) shall be an individual who understands the needs of young people in San Francisco, represents the diversity of ethnicity, race, immigrant status, gender and sexual orientation of the people of the City and County of San Francisco, is a resident of the City and County of San Francisco and is between the ages of 15 and 24 at the time of appointment; and,

WHEREAS, the Population Health and Prevention Joint Conference Committee Youth Health Advisor(s) shall serve for a term which shall be based on a Commission year; and,

WHEREAS, the Population Health and Prevention Joint Conference Committee Youth Health Advisor(s) shall be mentored and supervised by the Office of Adolescent Health; and,

WHEREAS, the Office of Adolescent Health, prior to recommending individuals to the Population Health and Prevention Joint Conference Committee, shall discuss these recommendations with the Director of Health; and,

WHEREAS, the Population Health and Prevention Joint Conference Committee shall recommend their selection or selections for Youth Health Advisor to the President of the Health Commission for appointment to the Joint Conference Committee, and upon his/her approval, the President shall subsequently announce the appointment at the next scheduled Health Commission meeting; and,

WHEREAS, the Health Commission may, at a future date, choose to include youth participation through the appointment of a Youth Health Advisor to the other Joint Conference Committees; now, therefore, be it,

RESOLVED, that the Health Commission supports and encourages youth participation in Health Commission discussions and activities; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Health Commission hereby formalizes the establishment of a Youth Health Advisor to the Population Health and Prevention Joint Conference Committee.

I hereby certify that the San Francisco Health Commission at its meeting of May 20, 2003 adopted the foregoing resolution.

Michele Olson, Executive Secretary to the Health Commission