FARMINGTON — The Greater Franklin County Youth Wellness Group is a new initiative sponsored by the Healthy Community Coalition. It is open to all youth in grades seven through 12 who live or go to school in Greater Franklin County.

The goal of the Greater Franklin County Youth Wellness Group is to help young people develop lifelong healthy habits. Youth members have the opportunity to learn ways to improve their personal wellness, tackling important issues like healthy eating, substance abuse prevention, and positive ways to deal with stress and anxiety.

Youth members will also have the opportunity to work within their local communities to create positive healthy changes like more tobacco-free spaces, establishing peer support programs, and helping shape local substance abuse prevention efforts.

The group will meet from 8  to 11 a.m. Monday, June 19, at Franklin Memorial Hospital. Ongoing meetings and activities will take place throughout July and August, including a paint night, hiking, kayaking, and cooking classes.

FMI, register: 207-779-2932, nditata@fchn.org, facebook.com/HealthyCommunityCoalition.