What factors are causing the trend to rise? 

-- Exposure of youth to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)

• Incarcerated or divorced parents or death or abandonment of a parent
• Sexual, emotional, verbal or physical abuse
• Physical neglect or emotional neglect
• Domestic violence exposure
• Substance abuse in the home
• Mental illness of a family member

- Unhealthy Relationships

• Social media issues
• Unhealthy parent relations
• Lack of connection to positive adult relationships
• Bullying

- Stigma of Recieving Services

• Being labeled
• Parents not supporting youth to enroll in services

- Societal Conditions

• Poverty
• Single Parent Families
• Lack of access to healthy environments
  • Physical infrastructure
  • Transportation
• Racism
• Sexism

- Social Emotional Difficulties

• Fear of failure - competitive & comparative
• Poor impulse control
• Sensations seeking- Immediate gratification
• Anxiety or sensitivity
• Hopelessness
• Body Image
• Poor coping skills
  • Substance Abuse Issues
  • Violence

- Lack access to care

• Schools understaffed to meet needs
• CTSS workers needed
• Mental health professionals not accessible

Factors that cause the trend to decrease:

- Access to Care

• Healthcare
• Mental health
• Chemical dependency

- Physical Environments that Promote Health

• Rec centers
• Parks/playgrounds/recreation
• Schools that are condusive to all childrens needs
• Safe environments (home and community)
• Healthy food access

- Positive Social Emotional Skills

• Opportunities to participate in activities that teach skills (hands on and educational)
• Preventative programs to support early learning and development

- Positive Societal Conditions

• Skills/jobs for all
• Quality education
• Transportation
• Compassionate communities

- Healthy Relationships

• Mentoring programs
• Positive parenting programs
• Adult/youth interaction- intergenerational
• Peer supports

Becker County Energize:

Essentia Health - project management and financial investment, access to care

USDA - Community Facilitites Grant 

West Central Initiative- funding listening sessions, networking 

Mahube/OTWA - whole family approach- resources

 Partnership4Health - best practices and financial support ,

Methodist Church- Building Space

Stellher Human Services - mental health services, crisis services

Becker County Human Services/Health, - resources

Lakes Crisis and Resource Center - Kinship program

Becker County 4H- after school/ art programming

Boys and Girls Club - games/resources, best practices

Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts - activities 

Lions Club- Frisbee golf partner in the Lions park 

Service Clubs- financial support

Frazee-Vergas School - partnership, resources, access to students, development of entrepreneurial program with hands on opportunities for learning

Local Churches- access to resources, connection to personal community relationships

Local Businesses- sponsorship/supports

Aleisa Jopp- catering business - development of cafe to support income base and entrepreneurial program for youth 

 DLCCC- passes to fitness center, training on youth program 

Local Government - city to leverage resources, people support 

 Becker County Museum- programming partnerships for outreach 

Father Project- motivational speaking

United Way - financial support 

Youth - ownership in creating solutions, skills 

Evidence based:

• Health services at schools
• Teachers/counselors provide home visits
• Education to reduce stigma surrounding mental illness
• Feeling assessments in every classroom
• Mental health and CTSS integrated into schools
• After school programs
• Teaching mindful habits
• Boys and Girls Club
• Trauma informed schools and families
• Recreational clubhouses
• Crisis intervention training
• Assist and suicide TALK training
• Expanding and improving trails, parks, beaches and outdoor fitness opportunities
• Love and logic
• Make it Okay
• Backpack program expansion
• Access to mental health professionals
• Youth recovery programs in all communities
• Preventure in schools
• MN math and reading corp
• Smaller class sizes
• Building faith in communities

Promising Practices:

• Early depression assessments by providers
• Apprenticeships for youth
• Support groups in school
• Anonymous warm line
• Education in schools for teachers
• Positive role models/mentoring programs
• Education in schools: sex ed, consent, and reducing risky behaviors
• Free activities- improving access for youth
• Free lunches and breakfast at school
• Summer programming for youth
• Career fairs/jobs for youthy
• Job coaches
• Rethink mental health
• CornerStone Project
• 5/10 Rule
• Gifts for kids (not just on a holiday)
• More community conversations to build compassion
• Tool box of mental health resources
• Youth centers

No Cost/Low Cost:

• Expanding community education
• Community gardens for youth
• Area providers promoting/referring for confidential services for minors
• Brown bag lunches for professionals- community resources/information
• Whole family apporoach
• 4-H programs
• Expand parenting classes for everyone
• Mentoring programs- mobilizing volunteers
• Improved utilization of school staff
• Equal student opportunities for leadership
• Church programs
• After school activities at extisting facilities in the community
• WeCare stamps expansion
• Habitat for Humanity (playgrounds, adaptive equipment)
• Police to school- warm handoffs
• Social Media marketing
• Improving utilization & equipment in parks/rec to support youth programs

Off the Wall:

• 24 Hour crisis units in each town
• All rural towns have teen centers
• Free mental healthcare
• Mental health providers in every community
• Universal healthcare
• Free transportation
• Splash pads
• Family mentoring programs
• Youth shelter/crisis house
• Enough funding to support the needs of the community to raise healthy youth
• No standardized testing
• Safe and affordable housing
• Free child care
• Livable wages for all
• Homework hotline
• Healthy eating on budget classes in all schools
• 7 principles program for moms- Gottman Program
• Low cost food programs
• Amber Wing in Becker County
• Every kid gets a bike
• Hotels with pools all let kids swim free
• Mentors for every student
• Train communities on compassion
• Activities for everyone (intergenerational) in every community every week
• Intermural sports and clubs

1. Develop a sustainable youth center in the community: a safe space, with fun activities, open to support youth all day, with food and adults that care

2. Implement a mentoring program

 3. Improving mental health access and education 

4. Improve parks - Frisbee golf (immediate step) 

5. Create entrepreneurial opportunities/apprenticeships 

6. Provide after school/outside of school art and diverse activities 

7. Implement mental health services and education in school to support students