(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel File)
Colorado, along with 10 other states, is launching the nation’s first youth corps to help teens access critical mental health resources. Hundreds of Corps members will deploy to Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota and Texas starting this fall.
The Youth Mental Health Corps, a $10 million public-private partnership, will address the growing mental health needs of young people while helping create career paths to address the national shortage of mental health professionals. This initiative will span three years starting in September.
“Colorado’s commitment to youth mental health is unwavering,” Lt. Gov. Diane Primavera said in a news release. “Together, we will make a tangible difference in the lives of Colorado’s youth, empowering them to overcome the challenges they face with resilience and hope while addressing the behavioral health workforce shortage.” I will go.”
Nearly 1 in 5 Colorado youth ages 5 to 17 reported poor mental health in 2023, according to a state health survey. Nationally, one in three high school students reports persistent feelings of hopelessness, and the suicide rate for Americans ages 10 to 24 has increased 62% over the past 15 years.
However, there is a chronic shortage of mental health professionals. More than 2.5 million Coloradans, about 40% of the population, live in areas with a shortage of behavioral health workers, according to the state.
Corps members are trained as navigators who serve middle school and high school students in schools and community-based organizations. At the same time, they can gain work experience, receive scholarships, earn certifications, and become eligible for awards that help pay off their education and student loans.
“This innovative collaboration is a great opportunity to not only build a pipeline for behavioral health professionals, but also to continue to build and expand the safety net of care for teens and young adults.” said Danetete R. Smith, Secretary of the Department of Behavioral Health. .
In addition to helping teens access mental health resources, troopers work directly with students to build trusting relationships and help students address challenges posed by social media, such as harassment, bullying, and bias. We will help them cope. They share resources for digital and media literacy.
This effort is funded or organized by several partners, including the Schultz Family Foundation, Pinterest, AmeriCorps, Colorado Department of Behavioral Health, and Colorado Community College System.
Colorado programs accepting members of the Youth Mental Health Corps include Alpine Achievers Initiative, City Year, Colorado Youth for Change, Trailhead Institute, and United Way Southwest Colorado.
AmeriCorps, the federal agency responsible for service and volunteerism, provides support to host organizations and scholarships and educational awards to service members.
The program will expand next year to California, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Utah.
Anyone between the ages of 18 and 24 with a high school diploma can apply here.
To read more articles from Colorado Public Radio, visit www.cpr.org..
