Healthy Youth Initiative

The Mercer Island Healthy Youth Initiative (HYI), formerly Mercer Island Communities that Care, grew out of the recognition that most Mercer Island youth are healthy and thriving, and yet significant improvements can still be made to improve trends in overall youth well-being.

Mercer Island has a long-standing history of highly valuing the health and safety of local youth. Research suggests that youth in affluent communities are more at risk for alcohol and other drug use than is generally assumed. From 2007-2017, the Mercer Island Communities that Care (MICTC) project was funded by the Drug Free Communities (DFC) grant to increase underage substance use prevention efforts on Mercer Island.  

The Healthy Youth Initiative continues the efforts of MICTC, and has expanded to include mental health promotion, family support services and youth engagement. HYI is made up of local experts, Island residents, community and regional partners dedicated to positively impacting the lives of youth in our community.

The Healthy Youth Initiative has created Parenting Mercer Island, a comprehensive online tool to support Mercer Island parents with everyday parenting challenges.  The tool allows parents and caregivers to access resources based on the age of the child (0-19)and supports social and emotional skill development in parents and children.  Visit www.parentingmercerisland.org.

To learn more, please contact the Healthy Youth Initiative Project Coordinator, Michelle Ritter, at michelle.ritter@mercerisland.gov, or visit the HYI Website at www.mihealthyyouth.com.