MITCHELL – Thursday afternoon, Youth First advocates, board members, Mitchell Community Schools representatives, and more met to celebrate the granting of $34,000 from Hoosier Uplands CEO David Miller, to Youth First, Inc. at Mitchell’s Junior High School.
“We’re here to celebrate Hoosier Uplands for really being the major supporter of our work, not only in Mitchell, but Orange County,” said Parri Black, Youth First, Inc. President and CEO.
Last year, Hoosier Uplands awarded some $15,000 to Youth First, Inc. to support the social and emotional well-being of children in Orange County. This year, they’re supplying twice that amount for the same reason.
“If you just help one of the kids,” David Miller, CEO of Hoosier Uplands said, “It’s worth all the money.”
Front Row: Dr. Brent Comer, Mitchell Superintendent; Becky Jessmer Youth First Regional Development Officer; David Miller, Hoosier Uplands, CEO; Holly Davis, Youth First Advocate
Youth First, Inc. provided thousands of students with free, in-school access to professional mental health care in 2022. In a time when the rates of depression, anxiety, suicide, and substance abuse are skyrocketing, this is a vital service.
“Youth First’s mission is to strengthen youth and families by providing evidence-based programs that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and maximize student success.” says Parri Black.
Youth First, Inc. Regional Development Officer Becky Jessmer added that Youth First’s Founder, William Wooten, MD, wanted to provide “Accessible, free-of-charge, low barrier” service, and not make kids seek out help, but “go where the kids are.”
Today, twenty five years later, that is what the organization is doing.
In his speech before the presentation, Mitchell Community Schools Superintendent, Dr. Brent Comer noted that the structure of schools is changing. Schools today are very different from how they were even twenty years ago.
“We kind of reinvent school and redefine what school needs to look like.” Dr. Brent Comer, Mitchell Community Schools Superintendent said, “We constantly need to look at evolving and adapting school to the kids that are going to school now.”
“I think it’s going to take more partnerships like the one we have.” Brent said, in reference to Hoosier Uplands and Youth First, Inc.
There was praise and genuine thankfulness for Melinda Johnson, the Youth First, Inc. social worker who serves Mitchell Junior High and Mitchell High School as a healthy, supportive outlet for struggling students.
“She’s built a great relationship with so many kids, and not only the kids, but the staff, the teachers,” Rickie Mason, Mitchell Junior High School Assistant Principal said, “She’s just an awesome person in general… I’m honored to work with her.”
These services are provided at no cost thanks to Youth First, Inc., which has 90 social workers embedded in schools in 13 counties in Indiana. In Orange County alone, Youth First has social workers in all three school systems.
With the goal of preventing substance abuse as a coping mechanism, Youth First, Inc. strives to provide kids with the life skills and tools to deal with emotional and mental strains in a healthy way, cultivating resilience and understanding. These tools last and grow with the children.
“It’s near and dear to my heart because my mom is from the area,” Becky Jessmer, who grew understandably emotional, has experience with family members who suffer from addiction. This drives her to help provide better resources and opportunities for others. “Maybe it won’t help my cousins,” she noted determinedly, “but it might help their kids.”
“If we can build stronger mental health, prevention will follow,” said Jessmer.
Unlike some academic learning, the adoption of these skills will remain relevant for a lifetime.
The saddest part is that the majority of kids who are most at risk, not only for substance abuse but for suicidal ideation and plotting, are thirteen and under. Children that should be enjoying their childhood are instead falling into negative mental states that jeopardize their life as well as their happiness.
Jessmer explained, “A lot of times when we don’t have a stable mental state we try to self-medicate,” which can be dangerous because it can easily lead to abuse of said medication or substance.
Youth First, Inc. is dedicated to preventing that stumbling block by providing kids with the resources needed to successfully manage negative emotions in a healthy manner, before the problems arise.
In the 2022 impact report, Youth First, Inc. provided services to 20,576 students. There were 531 interventions for life-threatening situations, and 3,486 students received group or individual services.
Youth First, Inc., with the assistance of its advocates, like Chloe Day, Holly Davis, Toya Lamm, Kelsey Lepre, and more, as well as its supporters, members, and everyone who lends aid to their mission, will continue to support the mental health and resilience of Indiana’s fledgling generations for years to come.
To contact or support Youth First, Inc. visit their website HERE.
