Recently, we sat down with Donna Chittum, CSB Recruitment Specialist, to learn more about the Public Health Youth Ambassador Program (PHYAP) and what it means for Fairfax County youth who are interested in careers in behavioral health, developmental disabilities and substance use prevention and treatment.

What is the Public Health Youth Ambassador Program?

The Fairfax County Health Department offers the Public Health Youth Ambassador Program (PHYAP). It's a free and innovative initiative that equips students in grades ten through 12 with vital public health knowledge and skills. The program focuses on key areas such as opioid use prevention, teen mental health support and community health work.

PHYAP runs two cohorts each year, each lasting 6 to 12 weeks depending on the location and the curriculum selected by the student. It also includes an evening and weekend program. PHYAP gives participants the chance to earn a nationally recognized certificate from both Morehouse College and George Mason University. 

Additionally, the PHYAP alumni program is designed to keep the momentum going long after that initial cohort concludes. It keeps alumni connected to the PHYAP program and to one another, allowing their individual experiences to grow into this unified youth voice for public health.

How is CSB involved with PHYAP?

Just over a year ago, I learned about PHYAP on LinkedIn. I saw they were accepting applications and I immediately saw a meaningful opportunity for the CSB to partner with the Health Department — and fortunately, leaders of both the CSB and the Health Department also saw the value.  

Over the past year, CSB teamed up with the Health Department to raise awareness among youth about the programs and the resources that we offer. We’ve also introduced these students to careers in behavioral health and developmental disability services. During the first year of our program partnership, Scott Folks and Blaythe Ayala from the Health Department and LaVurne Williams, Lawrence Smith, Lois Kirkpatrick and Raymond Paden from CSB were all instrumental in helping us achieve success.

Our involvement has been very hands-on through both virtual and in-person activities. We've delivered training, served as judges for the students’ community health projects back in December and we also facilitated a nine-week virtual immersion for more than 25 students. Then we hosted our SPARK event in April, where over 55 students from both Mount Vernon and Justice High Schools joined us for a fun, dynamic, interactive day of learning.  

We also recently celebrated the spring graduation where Daryl Washington, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and former CSB executive director, delivered the keynote address. 

Why is it important to introduce young people to behavioral health careers?

It is critically important because we continue to face a national workforce shortage in behavioral health and developmental disability services. Introducing young people to these careers early helps them understand the real-world impact these roles are having on individuals, on families and on our community as a whole.

How does this program partnership connect to the future of our community?

The CSB-PHYAP partnership aligns with both the Health Department and the CSB strategic plans and is directly tied to the future health and resilience of our community.

We are equipping students with the information, skills and resources to support them in their everyday living and in their interactions with their peers while helping them build bridges to their future career.

In doing so, this program really is helping to not only build that pipeline of informed, engaged youth who are eager to step into their roles and support public health, behavioral health and developmental disabilities, but also helping them right now. We are introducing them to all that CSB does and they’re also seeing how this applies to their own lives.

What do PHYAP’s efforts mean to you personally?

Having served as CSB’s recruiter for the last eight years, I see this program as a win-win. I am genuinely excited and inspired to see that we're able to connect to young people that are showing strong interest in learning about our programs and what resources we have and future career paths. I want them to see that there are opportunities for both clinical and administrative roles.  

PHYAP’s efforts also mean a great deal to me personally as a lifelong Fairfax County resident. I love this county, and I’m someone who has spent 12 years working with Fairfax County Public Schools and nearly eight years with the CSB.

I am just really proud to be a part of the program that's investing in youth and investing in our next generation of developing really committed, compassionate professionals on whom our community will depend.