California’s Behavioral Health Student Services Act (BHSSA) aims to transform schools into centers of wellness, and a central feature of its statewide evaluation is ensuring that young people have a meaningful voice in shaping that work. This resource describes the Youth Engagement Cohort (YEC) model, a five-session, student-centered process facilitated by WestEd evaluators in which students examine school-level data, reflect on available supports, and develop recommendations to present directly to adult partners. The YEC is part of the broader BHSSA evaluation being led by WestEd in partnership with California’s Commission for Behavioral Health.

Through the YEC, students gain leadership, evaluation, and communication skills while contributing insights that directly inform how schools design their behavioral health systems. Each cohort includes approximately 10 Youth Ambassadors with diverse experiences and identities who are supported by trusted school adults and WestEd evaluation staff. Students close the process with a Youth Voice Panel, presenting their findings directly to school, district, and community leaders. Youth perspectives gathered through the YEC are integrated into the final BHSSA Evaluation Report, ensuring that the voices of those closest to the issues shape the conclusions and recommendations that will guide future investment.