Youth First Mental Health Professionals

Protecting and healing the hearts of children.

Find a Youth First Mental Health Professional Outcomes

Research tells us the presence of one caring adult can make a difference in the life of a child, and that’s the kind of support Youth First Mental Health Professionals provide students in partnering schools. They are specialized mentors who are readily available to assess and address student, family, and school needs.

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Get in touch with Youth First staff for more information about this program.

  • Laura Keys, LCSW, Vice President of Programs & Services

Knowing that I had someone to go talk to made all the difference.

—Anonymous student

Many children and families are dealing with a lot of potential stressors and my role is to step in and provide the extra support needed to make sure those social, emotional, and behavioral concerns don’t hinder their success in school and life.

—Youth First Mental Health Professional

Youth First Mental Health Professionals serve partner schools across 14 Indiana counties. They provide an array of prevention and early intervention strategies for individuals, groups, and the entire school community. They also coordinate with community partners to connect students and families to resources and services.

Students can be referred to the Youth First Mental Health Professional by teachers, school administrators, parents, caregivers, peers, or may self-refer.

22,598

student lives touched by a Youth First Mental Health Professional

3,486

students receiving on-going individual support

6,313

referrals to community resources

14,768

parent consultations

35,272

teacher/staff consultations

99%

of students receiving services advanced to the next level or graduated high school

89%

of graduating seniors had college or career plans

These students and their parents significantly improved…

Mood Management

Communication

Family Bonding

Peer Resistance

Conflict Resolution

Coping Skills

Decision Making

Testimonials

“Without Youth First, we would not be able to reach the lives of the kids at the level that we are. We’d be putting Band-Aids on our children’s issues, and really [Youth First Mental Health Professional] Mrs. O. is invested in that kid’s life…and is doing intensive work to really help that child.”

“Mrs. A., if people can be safe places, you’re my safe place.”

“When I was in high school, I was dealing with problems at home, and I had no interest in school. I was struggling with anxiety, depression, and anger. I was making bad decisions until I was referred to my school’s Youth First Mental Health Professional.

I don’t think I would have graduated without her support.”

“Now more than ever, the absolute necessity of having a Youth First Mental Health Professional available for our kids reveals itself everyday. The needs of our students have only increased in these uncertain times. I can’t imagine not having highly qualified, caring, consistent support for our students. Partnering with Youth First was one of the most important, impactful decisions that we have made for our school. I can’t imagine a time before Youth First.”

“Mrs. C., when I talk to you I feel brave.”

“To be able to have a dedicated Youth First Mental Health Professional in our schools to reach our young people at a crucial time in their lives is a sound investment.”

“I feel it is vitally important to have availability and access to Youth First Mental Health Professionals in all the schools and in as many youth programs as possible. It literally saved my daughter’s life and provided me with a sounding board and a helping hand during the rough patches when I didn’t know where to turn.”

“You make my heart feel good.”

“Youth First has helped me greatly. Working with my Youth First Mental Health Professional has helped me to actually start loving myself again. Last year I was severely depressed, had severely self-harmed, and wasn’t eating nearly as much as I should have been. Now I am in a much better place mentally. I am no longer under depression’s control.”

“I was dealing with low self-esteem due to my peers cyber-bullying me. After meeting with my school’s Youth First Mental Health Professional, my life changed for the better, leaving me confident in myself, and most importantly, happy.”

“Working with my Youth First Mental Health Professional helped me learn new strategies and learn how to control my anger and find other ways to deal with my stress and emotions without taking it out on other people.”

Our school suspensions decreased 75% after one year of service from our Youth First Mental Health Professional. She has the skills, training, and heart to approach a problem, do a quick “micro intervention,” and make a connection that’s effective and culturally responsive. We can now take a kid who has no school skills and a traumatic home life and see him succeed.

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