Tag Archive for: Ascension St. Vincent Evansville

Ascension St. Vincent Evansville Awards $20,000 to Youth First

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Grant to Provide Mental Health Support and Substance Misuse Prevention for Youth in Evansville Catholic Diocese Schools

[Evansville, IN] Youth First, Inc. is celebrating a $20,000 grant award from Ascension St. Vincent Evansville for Youth First mental health services and prevention programs in partner schools throughout the Catholic Diocese of Evansville.  

The check presentation was hosted at Mater Dei High School to represent the 27 Youth First partner schools in the Catholic Diocese of Evansville. Youth First’s impactful work would not be possible without tremendous support from community partners like Ascension St. Vincent Evansville.

Ascension’s mission of delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to those most vulnerable, aligns with Youth First’s mission of strengthening youth and families by providing evidence-based programs that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and maximize student success.

Alex Chang, Ascension President, South Region, says, “Ascension St. Vincent’s collaboration with Youth First strengthens the safety net around students in the Evansville Catholic Diocese. By supporting Youth First’s mental health services within the parochial schools, this partnership ensures that young people have the guidance, resources, and encouragement they need to thrive—academically, emotionally, and spiritually.”  

The grant to Youth First will allow for continued mental health support for students in partner Catholic Diocese of Evansville schools. Across its service footprint, Youth First partners with 130 schools in 14 Indiana counties to embed substance misuse prevention programs and over 100 skilled mental health professionals (primarily master’s level social workers) in school buildings, where they provide caring mental health support for students and prevention coaching for parents and teachers. Youth First Mental Health Professionals build caring relationships, foster readiness for positive change, and boost resiliency, along with other valuable life skills.

Youth First’s positive work and strategies are driving growth, with more schools seeking their valuable expertise to address the growing need for mental health support for students. As Mater Dei High School Principal Darin Knight says, “For the past 25 years, Mater Dei has been truly blessed by the support Youth First has provided our students. Valorie Dassel, LCSW, LCAC, has faithfully served as our Youth First Mental Health Professional, positively impacting hundreds—if not thousands—of students through her expertise and compassion. From mental health challenges to family struggles and substance abuse, she helps our students navigate real-world issues and develop the values and resilience they need for adulthood. We are deeply grateful to community partners like Ascension for recognizing the importance of these programs in our Catholic schools and continuing to support Youth First.”

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Ascension St. Vincent Evansville Awards $17,000 to Strengthen Kids

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Grant to Support Youth First Services in Diocese of Evansville Catholic Schools

Ascension St. Vincent Evansville has awarded $17,000 to Youth First, Inc. for vital services and programs in Diocese of Evansville Catholic schools.

Youth First’s purpose is to strengthen the mental health and well-being of young people so they can live safe, healthy, and productive lives. This year 86 Youth First Social Workers and Mental Health Professionals, along with evidence-based prevention programs, are embedded in 119 schools across 12 Indiana counties and accessible to over 50,000 students, their parents and caregivers.

Ascension St. Vincent Evansville’s gift will help provide service to 24 Catholic schools across five counties, including 13 in Vanderburgh County.

The U.S. Surgeon General, American Academy of Pediatrics, and others have declared a national youth mental health crisis, as suicide rates and drug overdoses have soared in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Youth First’s data since the start of the pandemic mirrors the national concerns. Over the last several school years, Youth First’s caseload data reflected a 58 percent increase for suicide risk, an 84 percent increase in interventions for immediate behavioral concerns, and a 73 percent increase in teacher/staff consultations, with a growing number of educators seeking support for their own stress as well as their students’ needs.

Youth First embeds mental health professionals, primarily master’s level, licensed social workers, in schools to serve as specialized mentors for students and prevention coaches for parents and teachers. They also coordinate with community partners to connect students and families to resources and services. They build caring relationships, foster readiness for positive change, and boost resiliency along with other valuable life skills. Research shows these protective factors are the keys to preventing addiction, suicide, violence, and similar outcomes for young people. The organization’s positive outcomes are driving growth, with more schools seeking Youth First’s help to address the mental health needs of students and best equip them for success. Youth First services are free for students and families thanks to funding partners like Ascension St. Vincent Evansville.  

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