Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation

306 South University Avenue Mount Pleasant, MI, 48858 United States

(989) 773-7322

Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for all citizens of Isabella County, now and for generations to come, by attracting and holding permanent endowed funds from a wide range of donors, addressing needs through grant making and providing leadership on key community issues.

Youth Advisory Committee Launches 2026 Youth Needs Assessment Survey

March 04, 2026  /  Liz Conway

The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) of the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation is preparing to launch its 2026 Youth Needs Assessment Survey, an important initiative designed to better understand the experiences, challenges, and interests of youth in Isabella County.

Youth Needs Assessment

YAC is a student-led committee that focuses on supporting youth throughout the county. Members award grants to organizations that provide meaningful, safe, and engaging opportunities for young people. In addition to grantmaking, YAC members actively participate in community service projects such as Christmas Outreach, the Lions Chicken BBQ, and other local initiatives.

Every few years, the committee conducts a Youth Needs Assessment Survey to gather direct feedback from students about their perspectives and needs. The survey is administered to 8th and 10th grade students and provides valuable insight that helps guide youth-focused programming, funding decisions, and community initiatives.

The 2026 survey will be conducted online and includes questions focused on students’ perspectives about community issues, opportunities, and their overall experiences as young people in Isabella County. This year’s survey has been streamlined to improve clarity and reduce completion time for students.

Once responses are collected and analyzed, results will be shared with participating schools. Each school will receive a report based on responses from its students, along with a countywide summary highlighting broader trends and insights across Isabella County. This information helps schools, nonprofits, and community leaders better understand youth perspectives and identify areas where additional support or opportunities may be needed.

In past years, Beal City Public Schools, Mt. Pleasant Public Schools, Sacred Heart Academy, and Shepherd Public Schools have participated in the survey, and the Foundation hopes to gather responses from all 8th and 10th grade students across Isabella County this year.

The survey will be open March 9 through March 23, 2026, closing at 11:59 p.m. Schools are encouraged to administer the survey during the school day to make participation easy for students.

The survey is completely confidential. Students will not provide their names, and all responses will be reported only in aggregate form.

Community leaders and educators recognize that one of the most effective ways to support young people is to listen to their voices. The Youth Needs Assessment Survey helps ensure that decisions made by schools, nonprofits, and community partners reflect the real needs and priorities of Isabella County’s youth.


Take the Survey