Project Grant H79FG001047

YOUTH MENTAL WELLNESS PROGRAMMING - THE YMCA OF HONOLULU PROPOSES TO A PROVIDE SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY BASED YOUTH MENTAL WELLNESS PROGRAM FOR AT LEAST 150 YOUTH AGE 11-18 VIA A VARIETY OF IN-PERSON EXPERIENTIAL AND THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES TO HELP PARTICIPANTS DEVELOP SELF-AWARENESS, SELF-ESTEEM, SOCIAL SKILLS, APPROPRIATE COPING MECHANISMS AND STRESS MANAGEMENT TOOLS TO ADDRESS THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS NEEDS. THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO AN OVERWHELMING NEED EXPRESSED BY TEACHERS, SCHOOL STAFF, YOUTH PROGRAMMING PERSONNEL, AND MENTAL HEALTH AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. IN FACT, THE 2022 KIDS COUNT DATA BOOK INDICATED THAT THERE HAS BEEN A 23 PERCENT INCREASE IN HAWAII IN CHILDREN STRUGGLING WITH DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AS COMPARED TO 2016 RESULTS. HONOLULU COUNTY IS A PARTIAL MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREA. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE MOBILIZE RESOURCES AND PROGRAMMING TO HELP YOUTH AT A STAGE BEFORE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH ESCALATES TO THE NEED FOR MORE INTENSIVE SUPPORT. IN YEAR ONE, THE Y WILL COMPLETE ASSESSMENTS ON 450 YOUTH AGES 11-18 REFERRED TO PROGRAM STAFF BY SCHOOL COUNSELORS, TEACHERS, PARENTS, OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND SELF. WHILE THE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO ALL REGARDLESS OF DEMOGRAPHICS, WE WILL HAVE AN INTENTIONAL FOCUS ON REACHING NATIVE HAWAIIANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS AND THOSE WHO ARE LOW INCOME AND DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS. FROM THIS ASSESSMENT, YOUTH WILL BE GIVEN RESOURCES AND CONNECTIONS TO OPPORTUNITIES TO NURTURE THEIR MENTAL WELLNESS. THOSE WHO MEET QUALIFICATIONS BASED ON THE ASSESSMENT WILL BE INVITED TO EITHER A PREVENTION (ANTICIPATING SERVING 100 YOUTH) OR INTERVENTION (ANTICIPATING SERVING 50 YOUTH) PROGRAM APPROACH. THE 1-WEEK PREVENTION SPECIALTY PROGRAM WILL BE PREVENTATIVE AND EDUCATIONAL, FOCUSING ON PROVIDING RESILIENCY AND SKILL-BUILDING ACTIVITIES DURING AFTER-SCHOOL, SUMMER, AND INTERSESSION. THE 13-SESSION, EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTION PROGRAM WILL BE OFFERED TO YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN SCREENED AND HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA AND DISTRESS WHICH HAVE IMPACTED THEIR MENTAL WELLBEING NEGATIVELY. THIS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE MORE INTENSIVE CURRICULUM AND SUPPORT. OUTCOMES WILL BE MEASURED THROUGH SCREENING, INTAKE/REGISTRATION FORMS, AND SURVEYS. THROUGH THE POST-SURVEY, YOUTH WILL INDICATE ANY INCREASE IN PERCEIVED MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. OBJECTIVES: 1) COMPLETE SCREENING ON 450 YOUTH DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF PROGRAMMING, 2) ENROLL 100 YOUTH IN THE PREVENTION PROGRAM COMPONENT WITH 70% INCREASING THEIR ABILITY TO IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL WELLBEING, AND 3) ENROLL 50 YOUTH IN THE INTERVENTION PROGRAM COMPONENT WITH 70% OF PARTICIPANTS PUTTING INTO PRACTICE AT LEAST THREE POSITIVE COPING SKILLS. OUTCOMES WILL BE MEASURED THROUGH SCREENING, INTAKE/REGISTRATION FORMS, AND SURVEYS. THROUGH THE POST-SURVEY, YOUTH WILL INDICATE AN INCREASE IN PERCEIVED MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. GEOGRAPHIC CATCHMENT AREA. WAIANAE COAST, KAPOLEI, WAIPAHU, EWA BEACH, WAIALUA, WAHIAWA, AIEA, MOANALUA, KALIHI-PALAMA, NUUANU AND MAKIKI.