Tag Archive for: Morgan County

Kendrick Foundation Awards $61,476 to Youth First for Morgan County Youth

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Kendrick Foundation has awarded $61,476 to Youth First, Inc. to strengthen the mental health and well-being of students in Morgan County.

The grant will allow continued support for students at Bell Intermediate Academy in Martinsville and Paul Hadley Middle School in Mooresville. Youth First partners with 107 schools across 13 Indiana counties to embed skilled social workers in school buildings, where they become specialized mentors for students and prevention coaches for parents and teachers. Youth First Social Workers 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 supports for students.

“Since 2018, the Kendrick Foundation has invested in Youth First programs,” stated Keylee Wright, Kendrick Foundation Executive Director, “and we are seeing results. Last year, Youth First Social Workers managing caseloads in two Morgan County middle schools achieved 100% follow through on student referrals for outside mental health support, and the spring Strengthening Families program facilitated by Youth First saw seven families (26 participants) achieve 100% completion of the 10-week program.”

Youth First President & CEO Parri O. Black stated, “Our children are growing up in a complex and challenging world that puts them at greater risk for substance use, suicide, violence and harmful behaviors, and the stress of the pandemic will affect the mental health of our youth for years to come. The continued investment of the Kendrick Foundation is critical to achieving Youth First’s mission of cared-for kids. Working together, we can provide Morgan County youth with the support and coping tools needed to become thriving adults.”

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Home Bank Awards $15,000 to Youth First, Inc.

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Gift Supports the Social and Emotional Needs of Morgan County Students

Home Bank has awarded a $15,000 gift to Youth First, Inc. to strengthen the social and emotional well-being of students in Morgan County. The funds will help Youth First protect and heal the hearts of children through its highly impactful model of prevention.
For the second year in a row, Youth First’s prevention services and evidence-based programs are embedded in Martinsville and Mooresville schools. Youth First Social Workers at Bell Intermediate Academy and Paul Hadley Middle School are working to 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 growing social and emotional needs of students. Statewide, Youth First is partnering with 80 schools across 10 counties to place 59 Master’s level social workers in school buildings, where they become specialized mentors for students and prevention coaches for parents and teachers.
“Our children are growing up in an increasingly complex and challenging world that puts them at greater risk for substance use, bullying, social media abuses, and other harmful behaviors,” said Parri O. Black, President & CEO of Youth First, Inc. “We are so thankful for Home Bank’s investment, which is critical to furthering Youth First’s mission in Morgan County. Working together, we can strengthen more young people and their families.”
If you would like to know more about Youth First’s work in Morgan County, please contact Becky Jessmer, Regional Development Officer, at bjessmer@youthfirstinc.org or (812)322-8123. Donations designated for Youth First services and programs in Morgan County may be made online at youthfirstinc.org/morgan or by mail to 111 SE Third Street, Suite 405, Evansville, IN, 47708.

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Kendrick Foundation Awards $56,196 to Youth First, Inc.

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Gift Supports the Social and Emotional Needs of Students in Morgan County

Kendrick Foundation has awarded $56,196 to Youth First, Inc. to strengthen the social and emotional well-being of students in Morgan County.

Youth First partners with school districts to embed social workers in school buildings, where they become specialized mentors for students and prevention coaches for parents and teachers. Youth First Social Workers 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 growing social and emotional needs of students.

“Youth First Social Workers are the lighthouses for many students in Morgan County,” stated Keylee Wright, Kendrick Foundation Executive Director. “They choose to see the opportunities instead of the circumstances with these students and their families. We’re proud to be a partner in this effort to improve the health and well-being of Morgan County residents.”

Youth First President & CEO Parri O. Black stated, “Our children are growing up in a complex and challenging world that puts them at greater risk for substance use, suicide, violence and harmful behaviors. The investment of the Kendrick Foundation is critical to achieving Youth First’s mission. Working together, we can protect and heal the hearts of more young people and their families in Morgan County.”

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Kendrick Foundation Awards $15,160 to Youth First, Inc. to Support Morgan County Students

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The Kendrick Foundation has awarded a $15,160 grant to Youth First, Inc. to strengthen the social and emotional well-being of students in Mooresville and Martinsville schools. This investment will help Youth First expand its highly impactful model of prevention to reach more youth and families in Morgan County.

In partnership with school districts, Youth First embeds Master’s level social workers to become specialized mentors for students and prevention coaches for parents and teachers. Youth First Social Workers build caring relationships, foster readiness for positive change, and boost resiliency along with other valuable life skills. Research shows these are the keys to preventing addiction, suicide, violence, school dropouts and more.

Kendrick Foundation President Greg McKelfresh sums up the Foundation’s motivation for supporting Youth First:  “Children in Morgan County are our greatest asset in building a brighter future for this community. However, so many of them are struggling due to circumstances out of their control, whether it’s poverty, homelessness, addictions, mental illness, etc. We need solutions to help them and their families break these destructive cycles. We’re excited to partner with Youth First as they provide additional people and resources to tackle these issues head-on and build stronger, healthier and self-reliant families.”

“The Kendrick Foundation’s investment is critical to growing Youth First’s life-changing work in Morgan County. Working together, we can protect and heal the hearts of more young people and their families,” said Parri O. Black, Youth First’s President & CEO.

Youth First launches services this month at Paul Hadley Middle School in Mooresville with support from the Kendrick Foundation, Home Bank and the school district.  Youth First began serving Martinsville’s Bell Academy in August with funding from the Lilly Endowment’s Comprehensive Counseling Initiative, the Governor’s Director of Drug Prevention, Treatment, and Enforcement, and the school district.

“Kendrick’s grant goes a long way toward helping match Home Bank’s $30,000 challenge gift, but we must still raise another $15,000,” said Black. “We invite all community members to support Youth First’s life-saving work.”

Gifts designated for Youth First in Morgan County may be made online at youthfirstinc.org/morgan or by mail to 111 SE Third Street, Suite 405, Evansville, IN, 47708.  To learn more, contact Regional Development Officer Adam Novello at 574-286-3093 or anovello@youthfirstinc.org.

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Home Bank Awards $30,000 to Youth First, Inc.

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Gift Supports the Social and Emotional Needs of Morgan County Students

Home Bank awarded a $30,000 challenge gift to Youth First, Inc. Tuesday to strengthen the social and emotional well-being of students in Martinsville and Mooresville schools. The funds will help Youth First grow its highly impactful model of prevention in Morgan County, but other donors must also match the bank’s investment in order for the gift to be fully utilized.

Youth First partners with school districts to embed social workers in schools, where they become specialized mentors for students and prevention coaches for parents and teachers. Youth First Social Workers build caring relationships, foster readiness for positive change, and boost resiliency along with other valuable life skills. Research shows these are the keys to preventing addiction, suicide, violence, and similar outcomes for young people.

“Our children are growing up in an increasingly complex and challenging world that puts them at greater risk for substance use, bullying, social media abuses, and other harmful behaviors,” said Parri O. Black, President & CEO of Youth First, Inc. “Home Bank’s investment is critical to furthering Youth First’s mission in Morgan County. Working together, we can protect and heal the hearts of more young people and their families.”

Home Bank’s commitment comes with a challenge for community members.

“After learning about Youth First’s approach to prevention and the impactful results, Home Bank employees wanted to get behind it in a big way, so that more children and families benefit in Morgan County,” said Dan Moore, Home Bank President. “We encourage everyone who cares about kids to join Home Bank in donating to Youth First.”

Home Bank will match the community’s support dollar for dollar for up to $30,000.The Kendrick Foundation has already joined the effort to back Youth First’s work in Morgan County with a $15,000 grant.

Youth First started at Martinsville’s Bell Academy in August with funding from the Lilly Endowment’s Comprehensive Counseling Initiative, the Governor’s Director of Drug Prevention, Treatment, and Enforcement, and the school district. Youth First will launch services at Paul Hadley Middle School in Mooresville in January with the support from Home Bank, the Kendrick Foundation, and the school district.

Donations designated for Youth First in Morgan County may be made online at youthfirstinc.org/morgan or by mail to 111 SE Third Street, Suite 405, Evansville, IN, 47708.

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Youth First Announces New Regional Development Officer

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Youth First, Inc. is pleased to announce that Adam Novello has been named Regional Development Officer effective October 8, 2018. Adam lives in Bloomington, Indiana, and will handle fundraising and advocacy efforts in Monroe, Morgan, and Orange counties.

Adam brings with him nearly five years of philanthropy, event planning, and relationship management experience. Adam was formerly Curator of Education at South Bend’s HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum. Previously, he worked at The Children’s Museum in Indianapolis. Adam is a graduate of Indiana University.

In his new role at Youth First, Adam joins a growing development team that is responsible for marketing, event, volunteer, and philanthropic efforts across the organization’s ten-county service area. He will manage advocates and supporters, as well as oversee all fundraising efforts, to ensure Youth First fulfills its mission.

Youth First protects and heals the hearts of children and strengthens families, resulting in more positive, productive citizens and a stronger, healthier community. The agency is best known for embedding highly trained Youth First Social Workers who act as specialized mentors in area schools, assisting students, parents, and educators. It also provides Family First and other proven programs in life skills training and substance abuse prevention.

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