Youth Rising

DROP-IN, CAMPUS CONNECT, PEER SUPPORT, AND COMMUNITY-WIDE/SCHOOL-WIDE TRAININGS. - IN EDDY COUNTY, CHAVES COUNTY, CURRY COUNTY, ROOSEVELT COUNTY, AND LEA COUNTY IN NEW MEXICO, THERE IS A CHRONIC SENSE OF HOPELESSNESS, WITH HIGH RATES OF SUICIDE, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, CO-OCCURING DISORDERS,AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE WITH LIMITED OR NON-EXISTENT NETWORKS OF SUPPORT FOR YOUTH. TRANSITION-AGE YOUTH IN THESE COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCE MULTIPLE BARRIERS TO DEVELOPMENTALLY, CULTURALLY, AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS. UNTIL VERY RECENTLY, RESIDENTS IN OUR SERVICE COMMUNITIES WERE NOT READY TO ACCEPT OR DISCUSS MAJOR PROBLEMS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. THE MISSION OF YOUTH RISING (YR) IS TO EMPOWER VULNERABLE YOUTH TO USE THEIR VOICE AND LIFE EXPERIENCE TO REDUCE YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH AMONG THEIR PEERS. YR’S ROBUST MODEL FOCUSES ON IMPLEMENTING MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROMOTION, AWARENESS, PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND RESILIENCE ACTIVITIES TO REDUCE YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE AND IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH AND WHOLE COMMUNITIES OVER TIME. WITH SUPPORT FROM THIS GRANT, YOUTH RISING WILL GROW AND STRENGTHEN OUR YOUTH-LED PROGRAMS TO INCREASE PROTECTIVE FACTORS TO REDUCE YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE AND IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH USING THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIES: 1) INCREASE EDUCATION ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES FOR MENTAL HEALTH, SUICIDE, AND SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION; 2) PROVIDE SAFE, ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS FOR YOUTH AFTER SCHOOL THROUGH A YOUTH-LED DROP-IN CENTER; 3) INCREASE YOUTH LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH YOUTH-LED WELLNESS CAMPAIGNS AT THE LOCAL AND STATE LEVELS. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED SIX ACTIVITIES THAT ADDRESS SAMHSA PRIORITIES AND WILL WORK TO STRENGTHEN OUR YOUTH-CENTERED AND YOUTH-LED GRASSROOTS PROGRAM: DEVELOP YOUTH-LED DROP IN CENTERS IN DOWNTOWN AREAS, IMPLEMENT POSITIVE SOCIAL NORMING PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS, IMPLEMENT YOUTH RISING LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (YRLI) FOR LEADERSHIP, ADVOCACY, AND POLICY CHANGE, PROMOTE COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES TO IMPLEMENT YOUTH-LED PREVENTION EDUCATION THROUGH AWARENESS PRESENTATIONS AND ASSEMBLIES FOR YOUTH, FAMILIES, AND SCHOOL STAFF, PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING TO IDENTIFY ISSUES OF SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS INCLUDING SUICIDALITY AMONG YOUTH, AND ESTABLISH A STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AT LOCAL MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS WHERE THE NEED IS HIGH DUE TO COMPLEX SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL CONSTRUCTS. YR WILL CREATE A PLATFORM TO AMPLIFY YOUTH CONTRIBUTIONS AND INPUT, ALLOWING FOR ADVOCACY FOR SYSTEMS AND POLICY CHANGES WHILE SITTING ACROSS THE TABLE FROM COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND DECISION-MAKERS. YR IS A 501C3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH A 6-MEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND IS AFFILIATED WITH YOUTH RISING NATIONAL. COLLABORATING WITH REGIONAL PARTNERS AND OTHER AGENCIES, YR WILL WORK TO IMPLEMENT SYSTEMS CHANGE AND POLICY IMPROVEMENT FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN OUR SERVICE AREAS. OUR EMPHASIS WILL BE ON A TRUE YOUTH-ADULT PARTNERSHIP MODEL WHERE YOUTH AND ADULTS PRACTICE EQUITABLE PRACTICES THROUGH INFORMATION AND RESOURCE SHARING, SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND SHARED DECISION MAKING. YR WILL CATALYZE AND ENERGIZE AGENCIES AND YOUTH-SERVING GROUPS, WHILE CHAMPIONING BEST PRACTICES AND LEGISLATIVE POLICIES TO ENSURE QUALITY OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE. THE COALITION WILL ALSO CONVENE YOUTH, YOUTH-SERVICE PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR ONGOING TRAINING, MENTORING, AND CAPACITY-BUILDING. ALL PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES WILL BE AUTHENTICALLY YOUTH-LED AND YOUTH-DRIVEN.

YOUTH RISING (YR), A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, WILL EXPAND ITS CURRENT YOUTH RISING LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE - PEER MENTOR PROGRAM (YRLI-PMP), A COMPREHENSIVE, EVIDENCE-BASED, AND YOUTH-CENTERED PEER MENTORING PROGRAM IN THE FOLLOWING STATES; 1) ARIZONA, 2) IDAHO, 3) OREGON, 4) TENNESSEE AND 5) UTAH. THE PROGRAM EMPLOYS STRATEGIES TO REDUCE THE OCCURRENCE OF HIGH-RISK YOUTH DRUG USE, HOMELESSNESS, HIGH SCHOOL DROP-OUT AND OTHER NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR INDICATORS, WHILE INCREASING YOUTH BELONGING, SECURITY, AGENCY, COMMUNITY-CONNECTEDNESS AND OVERALL WELL-BEING OF HIGH-RISK YOUTH THROUGH A PEER MENTORING PROGRAM. THE FOUR ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF THE YOUTH RISING LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE - PEER MENTOR PROGRAM CONSIST OF (1) RECRUITMENT AND MENTOR MATCHING (2) ASSESSMENT, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT (3) PERSON-CENTERED ACTION PLANNING AND (4) PROGRAM EVALUATION. YOUTH RISING WILL SERVE AT-RISK YOUTH IN GRADES 6-12 IN THE FIVE STATES OVER THE THREE-YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD.  YOUTH RISING TAILORS ALL PROGRAMMING TO PRIORITIZE YOUTH WHO ARE ANY ONE OR A COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING INDICATORS: LOW-INCOME, CULTURALLY DIVERSE, EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, EXPERIENCING EMOTIONAL OR WELLBEING CHALLENGES, INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, INVOLVED IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, A TARGET OF ANY KIND OF BULLYING, INCLUDING CYBERBULLY, A VICTIM OF CRIME, EXPERIENCE SUBSTANCE ABUSE WITHIN THEMSELVES OR THEIR HOUSEHOLD, ARE CHILDREN OF ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY PERSONNEL OR INCARCERATED PARENTS OR LIVE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES.

YOUTH RISING HOUSE - YOUTH RISING (YR) IS A NATIONAL 501C3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN SERVING YOUTH LOCATED IN RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES FOR 11 YEARS. FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT WILL ALLOW US TO PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL AND NON-RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR TRIBAL PREGNANT OR PARENTING YOUTH/YOUNG ADULTS AGES 12-21. YOUTH RISING WILL PROVIDE DROP-IN SERVICES IN DESCHUTES COUNTY (CENTRAL OR) AND THE YOUTH RISING HOUSE (YR HOUSE), A NEW TRANSITIONAL LIVING COOPERATIVE SHELTER IN DOUGLAS COUNTY (SOUTHERN OR), ADDITIONALLY ACCEPTING REFERRALS FROM SEVEN SURROUNDING COUNTIES IN THE REGION. THE NON-RESIDENTIAL SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDED WILL CONSIST OF SERVICES COVERED UNDER THE NATIONAL YOUTH RISING MODEL. THIS INCLUDES DROP-IN CENTER SERVICES, GROUP PEER AND VIRTUAL PEER SUPPORT, PREVENTION PROGRAMS, APPLICABLE LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNSHIPS, AND ACCESS TO EDUCATION (GED OR ACCELERATED/SELF-PACED DIPLOMA PROGRAM). IN ADDITION TO ACCESS TO THE WELCOMED SERVICES LISTED ABOVE, RESIDENTS AGES 12-21 OF THE YR HOUSE WILL BE ACTIVELY SERVED THROUGH A PROGRAM FOCUSED ON TRIBAL YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE PREGNANT AND/OR PARENTING. EACH RESIDENT WILL RECEIVE 1:1 PEER SUPPORT FROM A PEER ADVOCATE WHO WILL EMPOWER AND ASSIST WITH ACCESS TO TRAUMA-ORIENTED SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. RESIDENTS WILL BE OFFERED GENDER-RESPONSIVE, TRAUMA-INFORMED SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT SERVICES THROUGH A COMPLETE CONTINUUM OF CARE AND FOR BREAKING THE CYCLE OF ADDICTION IN A CUTTING-EDGE, FORWARD-THINKING AND OUTCOMES-BASED APPROACH.

YOUTH RISING HOUSE & YOUTH RISING DROP-IN CENTER

HOPE RISING COALITION

REDUCING AND PREVENTING YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE AND ABUSE IN KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON BY EXPANDING YOUTH DROP-IN AND VIRTUAL CENTERS WITH PEER ADVOCATES SUPPORTING YOUTH LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.

HOPE RISING COALITION

THIS AWARD FUNDS THE APPROVED 2023-24 AMERICORPS STATE AND NATIONAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (ARP) PLANNING GRANT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO ALLOW FOR PLANNING TO PREPARE FOR A FULL COST AMERICORPS PROGRAM GRANT AWARD. PLANNING GRANT PROGRAMS MAY ONLY OPERATE FOR ONE YEAR. YOUR 2023-24 REGULATORY MATCH IS 24%, AND YOUR BUDGETARY MATCH IS 42.77%.

HOPE RISING PROJECTS DBA YOUTH RISING (STOP ACT GRANT)

HOPE RISING PROJECTS DBA YOUTH RISING (STOP ACT GRANT)

YOUTH RISING SALT LAKE COALITION

YOUTH RISING JACKSON DFC COALITION