Promoting Mental Well-being Among Youth and Adults in Hennepin County

Change to Chill by Allina Health partners with Hennepin County Public Health to reach youth most impacted by COVID-19

Partnership Background

 

Change to Chill (CTC), is partnering with Hennepin County Public Health to provide culturally specific mental health resources to youth most impacted by COVID-19. Phase I of this work was supported by Hennepin County CARES Act funding to improve mental well-being and resiliency among youth throughout Hennepin County. Phase II of this work is supported by Local Public Health funds from Hennepin County Public Health. The partnership will build from existing efforts within Change to Chill to offer more culturally responsive material to youth populations facing the greatest health disparities due to a variety of contributing factors.

COVID-19 has caused fear, anxiety, uncertainty and stress in populations across the United States and it continues to impact the mental health and well-being of students, families and staff throughout our region. COVID-19 has also disproportionately impacted Black, Indigenous, Hispanic or Latinx and LGTBQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Pansexual, Transgender, Genderqueer, Intersex, Agender, Asexual and Ally community) populations, further highlighting systemic inequities and racism that exists within healthcare. These populations are already vulnerable with LGBTQIA+ youth reporting significantly higher rates of anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts than their cisgender, heterosexual counterparts along with well-documented mental health disparities among populations of color.

Through December 2020, Change to Chill worked with community representatives and mental health providers within Allina Health and from partner organizations to offer free, virtual mental well-being sessions for youth, school staff and teachers throughout Hennepin County. By translating existing tools, creating new content and holding virtual sessions with diverse audiences, Change to Chill aims to provide a healing space for students and their parents while also acknowledging the unique needs of different populations. Through August 2021, Change to Chill will work with community partners to create new content specifically aimed at supporting LGBTQIA+ teens and their caregivers.

Change to Chill + Hennepin County Partnership Phase I Resources

Evaluation:

For a copy of the evaluation report from Phase I, click here.

Session Resources for School Staff:

Session Resources for Parents & Caregivers:

Session Resources for Teens:

 

Please send any questions to [email protected].