Our Medical Officer of Health is optimistic the Youth Action Alliance program will get a second chance.
Doctor Hazel Lynn says the Grey Bruce Health Unit has received some funding to keep the program running for a few more weeks.
The province announced earlier this summer that it would end the funding for the program to fight teen smoking.
But Doctor Lynn has sent a letter to the Deputy Minister of Health Promotion and has a meeting scheduled with Angela Longo for next Monday.
Doctor Lynn wants a total of 134 thousand dollars and she says it would keep the Youth Action Alliance program operational until next March.
Doctor Lynn says she will argue their youth are already doing what the province wants — and that is more than fighting teen smoking.
Doctor Lynn notes their youth talk to students about obesity and dental hygiene and they have a website that talks about safe tattoos and piercing’s.
Doctor Lynn says the funding would allow them to continue to pay for two youth advisors and hire high school students part time.
Doctor Lynn says she will also bring letters of support from parents to the meeting that talk about the leadership training and education their youth have received.
She hopes the province will look at the Grey Bruce program as a model for other health units across Ontario.