More Than 40 Ohio Youth Meet with Lawmakers to Advocate for Mental Health, Prevention, and Stigma Reduction
COLUMBUS, Ohio — More than 40 youth from across Ohio gathered today, February 18, 2026, at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce for Youth Advocacy Day, meeting directly with state lawmakers to elevate youth voices in public policy discussions around access to mental health services, substance misuse prevention, stigma reduction, and education.
The day began with opening remarks from State Representative Philip Robinson, who encouraged students to take an active role in advocacy and civic engagement.
“You don’t have to wait to step up and advocate. What we decide at the Statehouse affects you. Youth voices matter, and your lived experience helps shape public policy,” said Rep. Robinson.
Participants also heard from Joe Erb of McKinley Strategies, the event’s champion sponsor, who spoke about the importance of community voices in shaping effective policy.
“Elected officials at every level, from local to federal, need to hear from the people they represent. They can’t be experts in everything, which is why your knowledge and experiences matter,” Erb said.
Throughout the day, youth met with eight legislative offices, including Representatives McClain, Baker, Somani, and Dean, and Senators Liston, Landis, Lang, and Reynolds. In these meetings, students shared their perspectives and discussed a range of policy issues affecting young people across the state.
“Advocacy Day was a great opportunity to meet with our state representatives,” said Nihar, a member of the Ohio Youth Led Prevention Network (OYLPN) Youth Council. “We spoke with both Democratic and Republican lawmakers and discussed issues ranging from DORA policies to speaking out against House Bill 172. It meant a lot to have a seat at the table and be able to share our perspectives on these issues.”
For many participants, the event underscored the importance of youth involvement in policymaking. Another OYLPN Youth Council member, Emily, emphasized the importance of these opportunities.
“It’s important for youth to have a seat at the table in advocacy because it shows youth leadership and proves that our voices can be taken seriously by adults,” Emily said.
Youth Advocacy Day was hosted by Prevention Action Alliance and sponsored by McKinley Strategies, AmeriHealth Caritas, and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
Media Contact:
Leah Blewitt
Communications and Graphic Design Manager
614-570-3954
lblewitt@preventionactionalliance.org
