HPB's Inaugural Community Youth Health Conference A Draw For Youth Sector Professionals

300 youth and social workers and counsellors will convene for the first Community Youth Health Conference on 10 March 2010.

2 Organised by the Health Promotion Board, the conference will provide insights on health promotion, build capacity and boost competencies among professionals who work with youths in the area of health.

3 The conference is one of a slew of youth-related activities organised by the Health Promotion Board this month, in recognition that healthy lifestyle habits and behaviours are best retained when inculcated in the formative years, and that a holistic approach is necessary to reach out to youths at all levels of community. Conference highlights

4 Participants can look forward to conference sessions and workshops covering health issues pertinent to youths, such as sexual health, mental health and substance abuse. They will also enjoy the opportunity to network and build partnerships with other participants as well as relevant government agencies. Please refer to Annex A for the conference programme, and Annex B for speaker profiles.

5 The keynote address The Practice of Health Promotion in Community Organisations will be presented by Dr Suzanne Jackson, Assistant Professor at the Masters level in health promotion and global health in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto.

6 This conference for youth health professionals is an integral component of our overall capacity building strategy to realise the Board s vision of nurturing the world s healthiest and happiest 18-year olds, said Mr Alex Fun, Deputy Director, Youth Community and Parent Outreach Department, Youth Health Division, Health Promotion Board.

7 Guest-of-Honour Ms Ang Bee Lian, Chief Executive Officer, National Council of Social Service, will launch the conference proceedings.