City of Boonville Awards $50,000 to Youth First

Youth First is celebrating the City of Boonville for investing in Warrick County youth. The city recently awarded $50,000 to Youth First, Inc. to strengthen the mental health and well-being of students in Youth First partner schools Loge Elementary and Oakdale Elementary in Boonville, IN.

This significant gift, approved from opioid settlement funds, will enable Youth First to provide its school-based student assistance program and family and community prevention programs to help students build valuable life skills and healthy mindsets as they grow into thriving adults.  

Youth First embeds highly trained mental health professionals in school buildings, partnering with 126 schools across 14 Indiana counties. Youth First Mental Health Professionals build caring relationships, promote healthy choices, foster readiness for positive change, and boost resiliency along with other valuable life skills.

Ashley Underwood, Youth First Mental Health Professional at Loge Elementary, stated: “It means so much to me that the City of Boonville values the programs and services Youth First is providing for students at Loge Elementary School. I see the difference mental health support makes for kids every day. It truly is something that every school needs. I’m so happy I can be there for our students, celebrating their wins on good days and helping them overcome obstacles on bad days.”

Youth First President & CEO Holli Sullivan shared, “Our kids and families are dealing with busier schedules, greater stress and more complex challenges than ever. That’s why it’s so important to have easy access to skilled mental health support in school buildings, where students, parents and teachers can take full advantage of it. We are grateful for a partnership with the City of Boonville to build strong futures for Warrick County kids.”