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Colorado is one of four states slated to launch a new public-private program this fall aimed at addressing both the growing mental health needs of youth and the shortage of health care providers. be.
The program, called Youth Mental Health Corps, will train young people ages 18 to 24 to work with “middle and high school students in schools and community-based organizations,” according to a press release from Colorado Lt. Gov. Diane. They will act as “navigators who provide services.” Primavera office. The Youth Mental Health Corps website states that its members “work closely with health care providers and community partners to provide youth with the mental health support and resources they need.”
According to a press release, the federal government's AmeriCorps Service Program will work with the Colorado Department of Behavioral Health and the Colorado Community College System to recruit and place navigators, who will receive stipends and students. They will be eligible for loan forgiveness and other college tuition assistance.
“By joining this national initiative, we are not only addressing the urgent need for mental health resources, but also creating meaningful pathways for young people to pursue careers in this important field. ” Primavera said in a statement.
Children's Hospital Colorado declared a pediatric mental health “state of emergency” in 2021, and both public and private entities across the state responded with programs to address the crisis. The programs include the pandemic-era state-funded “I Matter,” which provides six free telehealth or in-person counseling sessions for students in elementary through high school and Colorado The state Legislature recently made the program permanent.
The Schultz Family Foundation, founded by former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and his wife Sheri, and the online platform Pinterest are supporting the Youth Mental Health Corps program, according to an AmeriCorps press release.
The press release cited “widespread concerns about the impact of social media on young people's mental health,” and noted that the Youth Mental Health Corps will “help students deal with social challenges such as online harassment, bullying, and prejudice.” “I will.”
Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota and Texas will launch youth mental health corps programs with “several hundred” navigators in the four states in September, according to a press release. Seven other states (California, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Utah) also plan to launch programs in the fall of 2025.
Melanie Asmar is Chalkbeat Colorado Bureau Chief. Please contact Melanie. [email protected].
Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational changes in public schools.
