YAC Community Needs Survey

<March 6, 2018> The Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is made up of 27 area high school students who make grants supporting programs to benefit young people in Muskegon County. In order to make grants that best meet their needs, YAC members conducted a survey with their peers via text, social media, and email. The results from the survey have been compiled and analyzed and will guide YAC in their grantmaking for the next three years.

Muskegon County youth responded to the survey – 418 of them to be exact! Ranging in age from 13 – 19, they identified their top five issues: academic stress, anxiety, bullying/cyberbullying, self-esteem, and mental health. Interestingly, issues that received at least 100 responses all dealt with mental well-being and mental health: peer pressure, suicide, family relationships,etc. Our YAC understands the importance of mental health for youth and will continue to advocate for their peers in this community.

Our hope is that nonprofits who serve the youth of Muskegon County will use this information to create or enhance programming that can help address these issues. To view a report on key issues from the survey, click here.