This fall, Colorado will be one of four states to introduce a new public-private program aimed at tackling the rising mental health needs of teenagers and the shortage of mental health providers. The initiative, named the Youth Mental Health Corps, will train young adults aged 18 to 24 to serve as “navigators” for middle and high school students in both schools and community-based organizations.
According to a press release from Colorado Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera’s office, these navigators will connect youth to essential mental health supports and resources in close collaboration with practitioners and community partners. The program’s website highlights that corps members will play a crucial role in linking youth to the necessary mental health services.
The initiative, part of the federal AmeriCorps service program, will collaborate with the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration and the Colorado Community College System to recruit and deploy the navigators. Participants will receive a stipend and be eligible for student loan forgiveness and other financial assistance for college.
Lt. Gov. Primavera emphasized the dual benefits of the program in her statement: “By joining this national initiative, we are not only addressing the urgent need for mental health resources but also creating meaningful pathways for our young adults to pursue careers in this vital field.”
In 2021, Children’s Hospital Colorado declared a pediatric mental health “state of emergency,” prompting both public and private sectors to develop programs to address the crisis. Among these efforts is the state-funded I Matter program, initiated during the pandemic, which provides six free telehealth or in-person counseling sessions to students from elementary through high school. Recently, Colorado lawmakers made this program permanent.
The Youth Mental Health Corps is supported by the Schultz Family Foundation, established by former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and his wife, Sheri, as well as the online platform Pinterest, according to a news release from AmeriCorps.
The press release also mentions the “broad concern about the impact of social media on the mental health of young people” and states that the Youth Mental Health Corps will assist students in navigating social challenges online, including harassment, bullying, and bias.
In September, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, and Texas will launch the Youth Mental Health Corps with “hundreds” of navigators across the four states. Additionally, seven other states—California, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Utah—are set to launch their programs in the fall of 2025.
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