Donation to Provide Mental Health Support and Substance Misuse Prevention for Youth

Gribbins Specialty Group has awarded $15,000 to Youth First, Inc. to invest in the health and well-being of youth and families. The award will provide mental health support and substance misuse prevention through student support services and prevention programs in area schools.

Megan Knoll, Gribbins Specialty Group’s Vice President of Operations, states: “In addition to the importance of mental health support for students in our area schools, Youth First is dedicated to providing important messaging for parents and caregivers to have crucial conversations with their children. Through our team’s support of Youth First, we are helping create stronger young people who will someday become part of our workforce and community.”

Youth First partners with 125 schools across 14 Indiana counties to embed 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.

Research shows these protective factors are the keys to effective prevention of negative outcomes for young people. The organization’s positive work and strategies are driving growth, with more schools seeking Youth First’s help to address the growing need for mental health support for students.