In their September Newsletter, RMC Health highlighted Dolores County and STUD: Students Tackling Unhealthy Decisions. They are a student-led group consisting of 35 high school students working together to support and encourage all Dove Creek Elementary, Middle, and High School students to make healthy choices! Julie Kibel, a STEPP grantee with Dolores County Environmental Health Agency, is one of several trusted adults who support the students’ work.

The STUD group tackles topics like vaping and tobacco use as well as mental health, bullying, social media, and the environment. While not a school-sponsored group, STUD meets at the high school during lunch hour (pizza often included!) and provides several school supports, including the Sources of Strength mentoring program where high school STUD leaders visit 3rd through 5th-grade classrooms at the nearby elementary school and lead activity-based lessons about the impacts of tobacco and nicotine use. 

View the September 2024 RMC Health newsletter to learn more about STUD.