Engaging and Empowering L.A. County Youth Towards Achieving Optimal Health Outcomes | FUSE

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Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Health, through its Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Programs (MCAH), is prioritizing youth health by empowering adolescents to navigate healthcare systems and make informed decisions about their well-being. Collaborating with its Youth Advisory Council—a diverse group of high school and college students—the County will address gaps in healthcare access that disproportionately affect youth of color, LGBTIA+ individuals, and other marginalized groups. FUSE Executive Fellow Sheronda Helton will play a crucial role in supporting MCAH’s state-mandated needs assessment and developing a five-year plan to enhance youth agency in healthcare.

Helton will engage deeply with the Youth Advisory Council, County agencies, and community partners to identify the healthcare needs of high school and college-aged youth. With a focus on addressing service gaps, particularly in youth-friendly mental health resources and care for foster youth, Helton will guide the creation of an initiative aimed at ensuring equitable access to healthcare for all young people. Through collaborative planning and the development of clear performance measures, this work will provide a sustainable framework that supports the evolving health needs of youth across Los Angeles County.

SHERONDA HELTON brings 18 years of experience in the education sector, with a strong commitment to educational equity and youth development. In her previous roles as the Executive Director of Girls on the Run Los Angeles and DEI Consultant at the National School Boards Association, she worked to advance educational equity on a broad scale, creating initiatives that directly impacted millions of students and educators nationwide. Sheronda holds a Master’s in Special Education from Loyola Marymount University and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Grambling State University.

Sheronda Helton

Los Angeles County – Department of Public Health

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