According to Shobha Bhaskar, MD, a pediatric hospitalist with St. Louis Children's Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine: “Teenagers are not only an extremely valuable resource of energy, good will and creativity, but also the key to our future. In a culture that is so wrapped around ‘wants’ and ‘achievements,’ it is easy for our teenagers to grow up without a sense of gratitude for what they have and empathy for the needs of the less fortunate around them. Volunteering in community service projects and helping others can be very fulfilling, and if you can show your teen how enriching it is from a young age, they’ll start to make an association between helping someone else and their own joy. There are lots of service projects available to teens locally, statewide, nationally and even internationally. Although volunteering can sometimes be a part of high school graduation requirements and meeting scholarship needs, it needs to be instilled in teens as a value that is truly appreciated and pursued with passion.”

Grant County 4-H, in conjunction with Grant County Emergency Management, held the first cohort in Kentucky for MyPI (My Preparedness Initiative).  This program helps teens that want to explore the field of emergency services and prepares them, and their families to be better prepared for a major disaster.  Grant County had seven teen participants which became Community Emergency Response Team members with certification in First Aid, CPR, AED and Weather Spotter.  The certification came with the dedication of attendance to five full-day trainings, where they had hands-on training on how to put out a small fire, used cribbing to stabilize a structure, practiced first aid, and so much more.  They have become a valuable asset to their schools and community with the ability to help during a disaster response.  

These teens have taken the first step in understanding the value of community service and the value that they, themselves, can add to their community.  Four graduates of the program served as Junior Counselors at 4-H Summer Camp and have been busy planning future trainings and how to give back.