The partners for Youth Mental Health Education include:

• Henderson County Public Schools (lead)
• Hope Coalition (lead)
• Crossnore Communities for Children (collaborate)
• Charter and private schools (collaborate)
• Blue Ridge Community College (collaborate)
• Training providers and funders (support)
• Henderson County Department of Public Health (support)

Youth Mental Health Education was identified by the Behavioral Health Summit as an action, that when combined with other actions in our community, has a reasonable chance of making a difference in mental health outcomes in Henderson County. While Youth Mental Health First Aid is an ongoing initiative, youth-led mental health education is a new approach, empowering youth leaders to support other youth in the community.

The customers for this strategy include youth (school-aged through young adult) and their families. This strategy aims to make a difference at the individual and interpersonal levels. 

As a strategy, Youth Mental Health Education in Henderson County is addressed through:

• Hope Rising
• Architects of Hope - program will begin March 2023
• Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA)- was paused in 2021/2022 and will re-launch in January 2023

Hope Rising is a youth diversion program and education course offered by the Hope Coalition. Weekly classes are for youth ages 18 and under, and offers a life-skills curriculum with evidence-based recovery. The group has been successful in 2022 in supporting youth and allowing a chance for peer connection and leadership. 

Planning for Architects of Hope and Youth Mental Health First Aid occured in 2022. Both programs will be implemented in 2023.

Hope Coalition has continued to offer the Hope Rising program for youth in 2023, in addition added the Architects of Hope program.  This program engaged 312 youth via youth leadership events; Architects of Hope local, regional, and national events; youth leadership summit; and youth council.

Henderson County Public Schools offered six Youth Mental Health First Aid classes in 2023, with  174 participants in total. Of the 174 participants:

• 96 were HCPS employees, incl Board members (2), District Administrators (5), Other Central Office Staff (5), Student Services (10), Teachers (57), Teacher Assistants (10), Other (7)
• 56 were community members, incl faith-based leaders, and representatives from the following organizations: Boys Girls Club, Camp Tekoa, Camplify, Child and Family Resource Center, Crossnore, the Health Department, Hope Coalition, Open Hearts Arts Center, Safelight, The Mediation Center, Trauma Intervention Program, True Ridge, Umoja Health, and Vaya,
• 9 were teachers or administrators from private or charter schools
• 5 were caregivers,
• 4 worked in childcare or Pre-K, and
• 4 were student teachers or college students.

Youth Mental Health First Aid will start again in Spring 2024.