Cape Coral Youth Council to present mental-health survey results to charter school board, plans follow-up events and fundraising

Members of the Cape Coral Youth Council described a March 7 mental-health forum and related student survey at the April 10 meeting and agreed to present findings to a Charter School Board meeting on April 14.

"The survey was made up of our questions and then questions that the State Promise Clubs came up with," Member Johnson said, describing a March 31 meeting where the county schools and partner organizations reviewed the questionnaire. She said two of the council's proposed questions were removed by partners and open-ended items were reformatted. The transcript records that initial response rates were low and the survey window was extended so organizers could collect more responses.

Members discussed a possible Part Two of the forum, focused on mental-health caregivers or parents, if the incoming seniors want to continue the project. The group also scheduled outreach and presentations, and several members volunteered to attend and present at the April 14 Charter School Board meeting at City Hall.

Council members also planned two community events tied to outreach and fundraising: a donor appreciation/fundraiser at Nice Guys Pizza on April 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to thank contributors and share trip videos and a Hurricane Expo volunteer shift on May 30 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to staff demonstration tables and help run the event. Members discussed logistical needs such as a projector and QR codes for donations.

Advisors and members praised the mental-health project as a meaningful legacy and urged continuing the work next term. Council leaders said they will circulate the final survey results and prepare a presentation for the Charter School Board and other stakeholders.