Tipping the Scales
Success is in his job title, but All in for Youth success coach Ben Hofs is after something more for the youth he serves: joy.
Read His Story
All in for Youth
It’s a team effort. With a focus on high school completion, All in for Youth staff collaborate to support students as they work to achieve their goals in school, whether that’s their mental health, career aspirations, or their personal life.
Mental health therapists, Roots and Wings family workers, mentorship coordinators, Out of School Time staff, and success coaches all form a collaborative team that operates full-time on site to overcome barriers that formerly arose when referring students to external agencies.
In All in for Youth's first year:
Approximately 2200 students served in 5 schools
557 children, youth & families received short-term support from a success coach
131 students & families accessed formal therapy supports
Top 5 Services Used
Outcomes
Improved Accessibility
Locating staff in schools removes barriers of cost, transportation, and the complexity of external navigation for youth and families.
More Engaged Students & Family
A strong relationship with a caring adult creates a sense of belonging, and increases attendance and engagement in class.
Better Educational Outcomes
Tutoring, mentorship, and out-of-school time activities contribute to better academic performance. Eastglen saw an increase in high school completion rates
Collaboration
A wraparound model reduces fragmentation and the potential for duplication of services by bringing together skilled agency staff who coordinate a diverse offering of services.
Strengthened School Community
School staff feel better able to meet the diverse needs of their students because they can reach out for support or refer students and families to the necessary services.
Building Personal Capacity
Children and youth with positive mental health and strong social and emotional skills are better able to regulate their emotions, establish healthy relationships, and make responsible decisions
Access in Action
Three young adults are finally having their voices heard at ACCESS Open Minds, a new downtown clinic tailored for young people experiencing mental illness.
Read Their StoryThe Right Door:
ACCESS Open Minds
Barrier-free. Engaging. Youth and family-friendly.
It’s more than a research project; it’s a re-imagination of how youth get help for their mental health.
At the ACCESS Open Minds Edmonton clinic, it’s simple. Youth walk in, and staff meet them where they’re at, guiding them to services that help them meet their goals.
One door, no one turned away. The right care, when and where youth need it.
Between May 2017 & March 2018
1040 Youth Visits to ACCESS
Youth Referrals to ACCESS
How they accessed help
Goals Identified
Goals
Who’s accessing youth services in the community?
20
Average age of youth accessing clinic
Ethnicity
How do youth find ACCESS Open Minds?
It’s important work and I’m glad they're here because maybe we’re not utilizing the supports today, but maybe tomorrow something will change and we’ll be knocking on their door and it will be literally right upstairs instead of going across town to find a support or not knowing who to call. You know, I do know who to call because they're right in our school.”
Family Member of Student at All in for Youth School
We could all be a little bit more aware that listening and compassion is the first thing you do. Mental health issues cross all races, economic lines, and it’s just part of humanity. And the more we can realize that and reach out to the people we know, the better off we’ll all be.”
Tim Hay, Mental Health Advocate