Youth First Highlights Laura Arrick – Social Work Week 2022

, ,

Laura Arrick, LCSW – Youth First Social Worker at Evansville Day School and Signature School in Vanderburgh County

Q: What called you to become a social worker?

A: I always knew I had the essential skills (good listener, empathetic, people-person, adaptable, genuinely caring, etc.), but I didn’t really feel called to the profession until my internships in college. Seeing social work in action and how I could use those skills to help people grow and heal was when I knew this was what I was passionate about. I haven’t looked back since. 

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A: By far the most rewarding part of my job is the connections I am able to make with the students. Being in their buildings and alongside them as they navigate their journey is so awe-inspiring. We have time to cultivate these trusting and safe relationships with one another and those bonds really make this work meaningful.

Q: What does mental health mean to you?

A: For me, mental health centers around a person’s emotional and psychological well-being. It is incredibly complex and ever-evolving. I am often challenged by the fact that no one technique works for everyone and figuring out how to tailor effective tools/strategies to each individual constantly keeps me learning and growing as well.

Q: How has social work influenced the way you view younger generations?

A: My work with students has definitely challenged my viewpoints in a lot of ways. They are so much more complex and complicated than we sometimes give them credit for. It’s easy to dismiss them or think they can’t possibly understand or think clearly and rationally about situations. When in fact they have a lot to offer and are often so much more open and non-judgemental. 

Q: Which mental health tools/strategies do you think are the most impactful or effective for students?

A: I think it is important for young people to be able to understand and process their belief systems and automatic thoughts. Once they gain that awareness, they can then problem-solve and think about their behaviors in a different light.

/by

Youth First Highlights Leah Lottes – Social Work Week 2022

, ,

Leah Lottes, LSW – Youth First Social Worker at Barr-Reeve Community Schools in Daviess County 

Q: What called you to become a social worker? 

A: Youth First was actually my reason for becoming a social worker! I was studying psychology in undergrad, and I had no idea what to do with a psych degree. I interned with Youth First my senior year, and I loved everything about the internship. That’s when I knew I wanted to be a social worker and work in a school. So I went on to get my Master’s in Social Work and somehow I lucked out and ended up working at Youth First at such an incredible school! 

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job? 

A: The most rewarding part of my job is being able to meet with so many students. I love building connections with students and being able to see them overcome the challenges they face. 

Q: Which mental health tools/strategies do you think are the most impactful or effective for students? 

A: I think just ensuring students have a support system in place where they have at least one trusted adult for them to talk to makes a world of difference. It’s the greatest tool to help students feel heard, and they then have the opportunity to talk about how they’re feeling and know they are not alone in the struggles they are going through.  

Q: In what ways has the Covid-19 pandemic affected youth mental health? 

A: The pandemic has created increased anxiety with students of all ages. The loss of loved ones, fear of the unknown, and social distancing from family and friends definitely has taken a toll on students, but the pandemic has also shown how resilient kids are.

/by

Youth First Highlights Alliyah Patton – Social Work Week 2022

, ,

Alliyah Patton, LSW – Youth First Social Worker at North High School in Vanderburgh County

Q: What called you to become a social worker?

A: I think some of the best social workers have been through quite a bit themselves. I wished I had someone to talk to about the anxiety I felt through high school. I didn’t know what exactly social anxiety was at the time, which caused me to feel isolated from everyone else. When I took classes in college, it was enlightening and validating to know there was a name for what I felt. After a few more courses, I realized I didn’t want anyone else to feel that lonely either.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A: I could write a list of the amazing interactions I have with students each day. One of the most rewarding aspects of the job is seeing the resiliency and strength of our students. They have every reason in the world to quit and give up, but everyday they keep working and trying. I can never not be inspired and humbled by them. From there, it’s amazing to see their growth once they develop the skills to maneuver through each of their situations.

Q: In what ways has the Covid-19 pandemic affected youth mental health?

A: I see a lot more anxiety within high school students now and definitely an increase in avoidant behaviors (skipping, poor attendance, lack of motivation). Their school schedule has been disrupted and they’ve been isolated from one another. Now, we are expecting them to come back and continue, like nothing really happened. It’s been a hard and difficult transition, for sure.

/by

Youth First Highlights Emily Bernhardt – Social Work Week 2022

, ,

Emily Bernhardt, LSW – Youth First Social Worker at Holy Cross Catholic School, St. James Catholic School, St. Joseph Catholic School, and Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School in Gibson County

Q: What called you to become a social worker?

A: I met with my Youth First Social Worker when I was in high school and she had such a strong impact on me. I knew I wanted to be able to have that same impact and be able to help people in the same ways she helped me.  

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A: When a student shares the ways they feel I have helped them to grow.

Q: Which mental health tools/strategies do you think are the most impactful or effective for students?

A: Having healthy coping skills and a strong support system.

/by

Youth First Highlights Ashley Manship – Social Work Week 2022

, ,

Ashley Manship, LSW – Youth First Social Worker at Paoli Jr./Sr. High School and Throop Elementary in Orange County

Q: What called you to become a social worker?

A: I’ve always had the strong desire to help and advocate for others. 

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A: Working with children and hearing/seeing positive outcomes and praises they give to me. 

Q:  What does mental health mean to you?

A:  Mental health means all of you. How is all of you doing? How are you handling your life, your relationships, your school/career life, your physical health? 

Q: Which mental health tools/strategies do you think are the most impactful or effective for students?

A: Building a trusting relationship through engagement, empathy, reflective listening, and guidance.  

Q: In what ways has the Covid-19 pandemic affected youth mental health?

A: Covid-19 has slowed the world down for them. It has taken away opportunities for them to grow, learn, and have essential social experiences. Some students have been in school for 2 years and have never eaten their breakfast in a cafeteria or been on a field trip.

Q: How has social work influenced the way you view younger generations?

A: Social work is all about meeting the client where they are. When working with the younger generations you are constantly viewing the world through their eyes. It keeps me in the realization that they have real and heavy conflicts/problems that have major impacts on them. 

/by

Youth First Highlights Jessie Laughlin – Social Work Week 2022

, ,

Jessie Laughlin, LSW – Youth First Social Worker at Edgewood Junior High School in Monroe County

Q: What called you to become a social worker?

A: I started college as an education major. During early field experience, I crossed paths with a school social worker. In learning more about their role, I knew that could be a great fit for me as I’ve always been an advocate for both mental health and education. Being a social worker allows me to work in so many different capacities; counselor, advocate, educator, community resource.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A: It is an honor when a student lets you into their world. It’s really special to see a moment when a student overcomes an obstacle, finding and using their natural strengths and putting into play the skills they’ve been working hard on. I love that I get to be part of nurturing a student’s mental health so they can best learn and grow. 

Q: What does mental health mean to you?

A: Every being has mental health, and it’s complex and changes day to day. The stigma around mental health is really unfortunate, and I hope that one day everyone will treat mental health like physical health; just another part of our holistic self-care. 

Q: How has social work influenced the way you view younger generations?

A: I have seen the power and change that comes with youth having at least one positive adult in their life, who cares for them and is looking out for them. That one person can make such a difference in their outcomes. 

Younger generations are eager to learn about the world, movements, injustice, and change. I’m really hopeful their awareness, engagement, and discussion surrounding mental health is moving our outlook and treatment of mental health in the right direction. Youth mental health seems to follow trends and is ever changing, depending on what is going on in the world and our culture. 

Q: Which mental health tools/strategies do you think are the most impactful or effective for students?

A: I am a big fan of mindfulness strategies. It’s helpful and effective for most people in many different situations; self-care, attention/focus concerns, stress and anxiety, self-esteem, anger, etc. 

/by

Assisting Your Teen with the Dreaded “Senioritis”

By Angel Wagner, LSW – March 2, 2022 –

The first semester of your child’s senior year of high school is complete. You log on to the school’s grading system expecting to see the normal A and B grades your child always receives.

However, this time the grades are different. You see Cs, Ds, or maybe even failing grades. Senioritis can appear in many forms, such as declining grades, missing assignments, or loss of interest in participating in classes.

When these signs of senioritis show up, your immediate reaction might be anger towards your child. As a parent, it can be difficult to understand how a good student can suddenly start failing tests and assignments. Your instinct might be to punish your child by grounding them from their games, phone, or even their car until their grades improve.

Before you react, take a moment to listen to your child. They may have fears or a lack of motivation that you don’t know about. Many high school seniors become unmotivated as the amount of schoolwork becomes overwhelming. They may have fears of graduating and moving to the next step. Having someone there to listen to these fears can help them figure out what they need to do to get through this difficult transition.

No one should stop a marathon on the last lap. Though there may be just a little left to go in the school year, that last semester may feel impossible to some students, just like the last lap of a marathon when a runner has already gone twenty-something miles by the end of the race. Stopping before the end may sound so much better than finishing at some point. Provide that motivation for your child to keep going.

You can help your child see the finish line more clearly by working with them to create a schedule. Between the usual homework, looming finals, college and scholarship applications, and extracurricular activities, your high school senior has a lot on their plate! They may want to just forget all their stress and concentrate on fun times with the friends they may never see again.

Some students have stated to school staff that they need structure in their day, otherwise they’d just prioritize fun things all the time. Sitting down with your child to create a schedule of fun and work will show them they can find enough time in the week for both.

The last year of high school may perhaps be the hardest year of all for some students. Remember that your child is not lazy. They are going through a normal phase of adolescence that many of us may forget about as we deal with the difficulties in our adult lives. Listening to their problems, giving motivation, and helping them stick to a schedule are simple ways that you can help your child finish strong.

/by

Valero Corporation Awards $20,000 to Youth First to Benefit Posey County Youth

, , ,

Valero Corporation has awarded $20,000 to Youth First, Inc. to strengthen the mental health and well-being of students in Posey County.

The grant will allow continued support for students at West Elementary School, St. Matthew Catholic School, and St. Philip Catholic School in Mt. Vernon; South Terrace Elementary School in Blairsville; and North Elementary School, North Posey Jr. High School, and North Posey High School in Poseyville.

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.

“We’re driven to make a difference for our community,” said Chris Rhea, Plant Manager of the Valero Mt. Vernon Ethanol Plant. “We’re proud to continue supporting Youth First and all they do to improve children’s lives in Posey County.”

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 Valero Corporation is critical to achieving Youth First’s mission of cared-for kids. Working together, we can provide Posey County youth with the support and coping tools needed to become thriving adults.”

/by

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

, , ,

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.”

/by

D-Patrick Ford/Lincoln to present a donation check to Youth First

, , , ,

Car dealership’s on-going “$10 per Test Drive” television advertising campaign continues to support local charities and causes 

D-Patrick Ford/Lincoln presented a check for $2,500 to Youth First, Inc. on Wednesday, February 2nd 10:00 am.  The presentation occured at the D-Patrick Ford/Lincoln dealership, located at 1100 Walnut Street, which is just south of the Highway 41/Lloyd Expressway Interchange. Each month, D-Patrick Ford/Lincoln selects a local charity to support. It then awards $10 per test drive (up to $2,500) to the charitable organization. Representatives from D-Patrick Ford/Lincoln will be presented the check to representatives from Youth First, Inc to support Youth First’s mission of strengthening Indiana youth and families.

/by