A group of local high school and middle school students recently completed participation in a youth tobacco prevention initiative focused on media literacy, vaping awareness, and youth leadership through a partnership between Healthy Archuleta, Pagosa schools, and the Archuleta County Public Health Department.
During this past academic year, students participated in interactive workshops exploring how tobacco and vaping companies target youth through social media, flavors, influencer culture, product design, and online advertising. Rather than relying solely on traditional lectures, the program encouraged students to critically examine how marketing and peer influence shape decision-making among young people.
Middle school students participated in a six-week media literacy curriculum focused on influencer marketing, healthy habits, and vaping culture, while high school students engaged in a design-thinking process examining the social pressures and community factors contributing to youth vaping. Students also developed anti-vaping campaign materials and prevention posters that were publicly displayed during the 2026 Archuleta Food Summit, where they engaged community members in conversations about vaping prevention, social media influence, and healthy decision-making.
Program facilitators shared that many students were surprised to learn how intentionally vaping products are marketed toward younger audiences through colors, flavors, product design, and online algorithms. Students also expressed frustration about the role social media and influencer culture play in normalizing nicotine use among youth.
Healthy Archuleta implemented the initiative using a youth-adult partnership model that included a young adult staff member, youth intern, youth engagement consultant, and support from public health and school partners. Weekly sessions emphasized relationship-building, creativity, dialogue, and critical thinking while creating welcoming spaces for youth participation and campaign input.
Healthy Archuleta hopes to continue expanding youth tobacco prevention efforts through additional school partnerships, peer-led leadership opportunities, parent education, and expanded youth engagement programming focused on media literacy, forming healthy habits, and healthy decision-making. During the first year of this work, youth consistently identified the need for safe and welcoming “third spaces” outside of school and home where they could gather, build relationships, and participate in positive community activities.
Through the current Archuleta Community Food Hub project, Healthy Archuleta will work alongside youth and community members to help design the Food Hub as a community-centered space that supports youth connection, belonging, leadership, and prevention-focused programming in Archuleta County.
For more information about the Food Hub project and opportunities to get involved, visit this website.
For more information on youth prevention efforts, visit this website or email fsfearchuleta@gmail.com to learn more about our work supporting youth, health, and food systems in our community.
From Isolation to Inclusion: How Healthy Archuleta is Rewriting the Narrative on Mental Health
On a quiet evening in a local community garden, the clink of trowels and the murmur of shared recipes might not seem like medical interventions. But for the residents of Archuleta County, these moments are the front lines of a revolutionary shift in mental and behavioral health care.
Healthy Archuleta, a non-profit traditionally known for its work in food security, is increasingly bridging the gap between nutrition and mental wellness. Their latest initiatives are echoing a global call to action recently highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO): the move from institutional isolation to community-based inclusion.
A Global Model in a Rural Setting
The WHO argues that “community-based mental health care” is the gold standard for modern society. Their research indicates that when people receive care within their own social environments rather than in isolated hospital settings recovery is faster and more sustainable.
In Archuleta County, where the nearest major psychiatric centers are hours away over mountain passes, this community-driven approach isn’t just a preference; it’s a necessity. Healthy Archuleta is operationalizing this by fostering “social belonging” as a primary health outcome.
“Health isn’t just about what’s on your plate; it’s about who is at your table,” says the organization. By creating Community Learning and Leadership Circles (CLLCs), they are creating a support network that combats the isolation often found in rural life.
Breaking Barriers: Language and Literacy
One of the steepest hurdles in behavioral health is the stigma associated with seeking help, a barrier often magnified by language gaps. Healthy Archuleta has tackled this head-on. Their “Bilingual Navigator” program trains community members to help Spanish-speaking households navigate the complex healthcare landscape.
This April, the organization hosted Dr. Jose Canaca, a specialist in cultural psychiatry, to lead sessions on mental health literacy and cultural competency. The goal is to ensure that when a resident finally reaches out for help, they are met with a provider who understands their heritage and their heart.
A Network of Care
Healthy Archuleta’s work is supported by the Archuleta Rural Health Network (RHN), a coalition of local providers and residents. This network works to ensure that primary care and mental health are no longer treated as separate entities.
By integrating these services, they are following the WHO’s recommendation to treat mental health as a fundamental human right that belongs in the community, not just the clinic.
As Archuleta County continues to grow, Healthy Archuleta is ensuring that its residents don’t just live here; they thrive here. Through the simple acts of gardening, sharing meals, and training navigators, they are proving that the most powerful medicine for the mind is often the community itself.
If you or a loved one needs more formal support, resources are available. Call or text the 988 Lifeline. It is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
To learn more about local mental health resources or to get involved with Healthy Archuleta, visit www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org.