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Flathead Reservation

4-H Youth Lead the Way in Promoting Positive Mental Health

Published: 2020
By Brenda Richey
The Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) grant started September 1, 2019. The purpose of this grant is to demonstrate if high school youth, after receiving education about mental health, can make a positive impact in opening the discussion of mental health within their communities. To achieve this purpose the work is two fold: first is the need to gain a better understanding of the community member’s general thoughts regarding mental health; second, youth need to receive mental health training and opportunities to work within their communities, sharing their knowledge through youth-led engagement. To address community knowledge, the CYFAR program reached out to Tribal Council Leadership. CYFAR requested approval to create a community-wide survey. This presentation was during a Zoom broadcast that reached several hundred in tribal departments, businesses, and households. Both the survey and the program got unanimous Tribal Council support. The survey was created and after receiving Salish Kootenai College Internal Review Board approval, and it was administered reservation-wide. Over 300 adult participants shared their thoughts about mental health. In addition, the survey was sent to listservs of most large organizations and businesses on the Flathead Reservation. By late September, 419 responses to the Qualtrics Community Survey had been received from these organizations and businesses. In early 2020, CYFAR jumped to a great start with implementation of the Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) curriculum. Freshman and sophomores of St. Ignatius and Ronan High Schools participated in this five-class series. This training was successful and led to the recruitment of students who have begun an in-school Youth Mental Health Leadership 4-H Club. Club participants, now trained in YAM, are working with the 4-H CYFAR Site Director to develop a civic campaign around social, emotional, and physical health and wellness. The campaign will feature activities and events, led by the youth, for their communities. Club students have demonstrated interests in teaching, marketing, and graphic design as well as a passion for mental health awareness. During their first club meeting, students assigned roles, selected an initial project and outlined long-term goals. Students continue to demonstrate ingenuity through the use of technology during the COVID-19 Pandemic by creating their own google classroom and working to include other club members who are at home due to restrictions.
4-H CYFAR Teens, promote positive mental health by designing a club logo (brain) and promotional stickers!