Grain Processing Corporation (GPC) has made a $15,000 donation to Youth First, Inc. This is the third significant donation GPC has made to Youth First since 2017.  With this support Youth First is able to continue their mission to strengthen students and their families in Daviess, Martin and Pike counties.  GPC is a subsidiary company of Kent Corporation, headquartered in Muscatine, Iowa.

Youth First brings family programs to communities and partners with schools to embed Master’s level social workers in the building, where they are an essential part of the school community, serving as mentors for students and prevention coaches for parents and teachers. This service is available to any student enrolled at one of 92 partner schools across 11 Indiana counties. Youth First Social Workers build caring relationships with students, foster readiness for positive change, and boost resiliency to face life’s challenges.

Research shows that building these protective factors in young people reduces risk factors and is essential to preventing addiction, violence, suicide, and similar tragic outcomes. Over 10 years of Youth First data demonstrate that this prevention model benefits the whole community,  empowering the next generation of employees with the social and emotional skills they need to work or continue their education, and ultimately thrive.

“Youth First Social Workers are in nearly all of the area schools where GPC employees’ children or grandchildren attend,” said John Dudenhoeffer, Plant Manager. “This donation is one way that we can help support our employees and their families and the many challenges that kids face today.”

To learn more about Youth First services and programs or to make a donation, visit youthfirstinc.org.