Advocacy

This past June, we traveled to Harrisburg to advocate for behavioral health legislation, alongside dozens of other southeastern PA-based nonprofit organizations, at the Bucks-Mont Collaborative Day of Action. 

As the only youth-led organization participating, we proudly advocated for HB1648, which would amend the Public School Code of 1949 to add provisions for student mental health days as excused absences. Students deserve to take care of their mental health just as they would take care of their physical health. This bill would allow for students to appropriately take care of their mental health needs, without stress or fear of missing schoolwork, while simultaneously working to dismantle the idea that mental health is inferior to physical dealth and deserves less attention and care. 

In conversations with bipartisan leaders, we emphasized the urgent, ongoing need to support youth mental health. BDK remains committed to advocating for policy at the intersection of mental health and education, ensuring every student feels seen, supported, and equipped to thrive, both in school and beyond.