Healthy Campus was honored to present at the 2025 California School Nurses Organization (CSNO) Conference, where the team led a presentation titled “Moving From Inclusion to Belonging: The Role of Youth in Designing, Promoting, and Implementing School Mental Health Programs.”
The session highlighted the importance of youth engagement in school mental health initiatives, drawing from Healthy Campus’ work with Vista Unified School District (VUSD) in San Diego County. By prioritizing student involvement in the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) program, Healthy Campus has contributed to a culture of belonging and empowered students to take an active role in shaping mental health solutions within their schools.
“Students are not just participants in mental health programs—they are the architects of change,” said Mimi Brehmer, Senior Program Development Manager at Healthy Campus. “We transition students into leadership roles as ambassadors, which helps make sure that mental health initiatives are student-centered, effective, and sustainable.”
The session also showcased the VUSD VIBES (Voices, Inclusion, Belonging, Engagement, Support) initiative, which equips students with the tools to design, promote, and implement mental health programs tailored to their peers’ needs.
Participants at the CSNO Conference, including school nurses from across California, gained insights into evidence-based group visits and strategies for enhancing youth-driven mental health support within their districts.
As Healthy Campus continues its mission to improve student mental health, the organization remains committed to amplifying student voices and fostering meaningful, lasting change in school communities.
“True mental health support in schools goes beyond access—it’s about giving students a voice in the programs that affect them,” said Healthy Campus President Thomas Shaffer. “We believe that when students lead the conversation, we create lasting change that fosters belonging, resilience, and well-being for everyone.”
To learn more about Healthy Campus and its involvement at the CSNO Conference, please contact Andrea Ramos at aramos@healthycampus.com. She is happy to address queries or respond to interview requests.