Youth Initiatives

Investing in Our Youth

District Attorney Ryan is dedicated to utilizing a holistic approach to prosecution and crime prevention. Protecting and serving our community begins with supporting our young people. It is important to foster environments that are safe for all children to grow, learn and thrive. Our children are faced with evolving challenges at home, at school and in the community. Our work is focused on addressing individual emotional, physical and social needs at a young age for long-term wellness and success. Research has shown how the cyclical effects of substance use, trauma and violence can have a long-lasting impact on children. It is important that they receive support services early and develop the social and emotional skills needed to build resiliency, problem solve effectively and cope with ongoing struggles. 

We work closely with parents, educators and child-care providers to ensure youth develop the tools needed to make responsible choices and be empowered leaders in their communities. We are focused on amplifying youth’s voices, recognizing how community involvement and engagement are paramount to their development and success. The Office aims to involve young people in addressing health and safety issues across the county and ensure that they are part of the solution.

Our discussions with youth are an integral part of informing our programming. Our prevention and education initiatives include school-based programming for students, parents and educators and trainings for other youth-serving professionals. 

Some of the topics we discuss throughout the year are:

• Substance Use
• Bullying & Cyberbullying
• Teen Dating Violence 
• Internet Safety