LCHIC, Inc./Youth Development Task Force

Youth Development Task Force (YDTF), established in 1998, is overseen by the Lycoming County Health Improvement Coalition, a grassroots 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1994. The Coalition is dedicated to improving the health and safety of Lycoming County residents by identifying and supporting innovative, evidence-based programs that strengthen our community.

For more than two decades, YDTF has empowered youth leadership and positive decision-making through impactful initiatives such as the Find Your Anti-Drug and Find Your Worth campaigns. These efforts promote healthy choices, resilience, and positive mental health, and are led by student ambassadors from all nine Lycoming County school districts.

YDTF ambassadors meet monthly throughout the school year to identify emerging issues affecting youth and to design meaningful, student-driven responses. Guided by elected student officers, ambassadors organize committees and initiatives focused on substance-use prevention, mental health awareness, and building supportive relationships within the community.

Signature YDTF initiatives include:

• Countywide Awareness and Spirit Weeks, engaging schools across the county in conversations around mental and physical well-being

• Sticker Shock campaigns, held annually during high-risk seasons such as the holidays and prom, reminding patrons of the legal and social consequences of providing alcohol to minors

• Kickin’ It with Cops, an annual event that brings students and law enforcement together to build trust, foster positive relationships, and strengthen relationships with school resource officers and local law enforcement 

Through youth leadership, collaboration, and community partnerships, YDTF continues to create meaningful opportunities that support the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of Lycoming County’s youth.