Youth First Social Work Program 2020-21 Academic Year
Protecting Youth in a Challenging Time Now, more than ever, schools must be places of care and support in order to be places of learning. Youth First Social Workers, embedded individually in schools and yet working together as a team across grade levels and counties, are uniquely positioned to offer that care. In every school we partner with, these Master’s level mental health professionals strengthen connections between students and their teachers and between families and community resources, creating safer and more supportive Social Workers environments for learning. The numbers in this report show the rising need: Youth First Social Workers in 92 partner schools last year saw a 40% increase in life-threatening crisis interventions, primarily for suicide risk, and a 60% K–12 Schools increase in consultations for teachers seeking support both for their students and for themselves. They supported 84 students who lost a loved one to Covid-19. And they served as indispensable connectors to community Students with Access resources urgently needed by kids and families.
64 92
39,145
The positive outcomes presented in these pages, analyzed by independent evaluator Diehl Consulting Group, show that even during times of extraordinary challenge and change, the youth we serve are growing in resilience and hope. Their potential, supported by the caring presence of highly trained mental health professionals, is worthy of our communities’ highest attention and investment.
Youth First Social Work Strategies 21,202
Students in Educational Presentations
Universal
General Population
1,305
Teachers in Professional Development
Selective
550
Small Groups
Students in Group Sessions
Indicated
32,393
1:1 Support for Individuals
Teacher/Staff Consultations
2,971
Students on Caseload
468
Crisis Interventions
9,474
Immediate Need Interventions
12,322
Parent Consultations
4,388
Referrals to Community Resources
2,971
At-Risk Students Received Individual Services
Through 36,031 Individual or Family Sessions
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Gender 55% 45%
Female Male
Race 81% 8% 7% 3% 1%
White Black Multi-Racial Hispanic Other
History of Family
Economically
26% Mental Illness
Parents Divorced
21% Domestic Violence
History of Family
8% Incarcerated
51% Disadvantaged 46% or Never Married
34% Substance Abuse
History of Family Currently Parent
History of Abuse 28% and/or Neglect
Community 43% 10% 47%
Urban Suburban Rural
Reason for Referral
Education 75% 25%
Public Private
Living Situation With Parent Relative Non-Family
90% 8% 2%
41%
Mental Health Concern
21%
Home Life Concern
20%
Academic Concern
School Discipline No
Student Assessments Conducted
441
1,475
Suicide Risk Substance Abuse
7%
Social Support Social Skills Concern
Source of Referral
23% 77%
Yes
11%
39%
Teacher/ Administrator
8%
Social Worker
33%
Parent/ Caregiver
2%
Friend of Student
17%
Student Self-Referral
1%
Mental Health Professional
Strengthened Protective Factors Statistically Significant Improvements from Baseline to 3 Months • Parent-Child Bonding • Children’s Hope • Mood Management • Peer Resistance • Adult Bonding • Family Conflict • Decision Making • Resiliency • Family Attachment • Communication • Coping Skills
Students and parents reported significant improvements in protective factors in 2020-21.
Reduced Individual Concerns Teachers, parents, and students reported significant reduction in the intensity of concerns in 2020-21.
Intensity Rating (5–60)
Reduced Concern for Students 40
Examples of Individual Concerns
35
• Teachers: grades, attendance, poor decision making, disengagement, conduct issues • Parents: poor decision making, depression, defiance, anger, family conflict • Students: negative self-image, anxiety, depression, anger, academic performance
30 25 Baseline
3 Months
Teachers Surveyed: 499
5 Months
Parents Surveyed: 521
Students Surveyed: 332
Increased School Adjustment Adjustment Score (1–7)
Increased School Adjustment 5.4
Teachers reported significant improvements in school adjustment in 2020-21.
Examples of Adjustment Behaviors
5.3
• School attendance • Homework completion • Classroom participation • Peer relationships
5.2 5.1 Baseline
3 Months
5 Months
Teachers Surveyed: 604
Decreased Problematic Behaviors Behavior Rating (0–100)
Decreased Problematic Behavior 30
Teachers reported significant decreases in problematic behaviors in elementary students in 2020-21.
Examples of Problematic Behaviors
25
• Physically hurts others • Poor social behavior • Hides inner thoughts • Easily loses temper
20 15 Baseline
3 Months
5 Months
• Quits tasks without finishing • Poor attention span
Teachers Surveyed: 282
Positive Academic Progress for 2020-21 Caseload Students
99%
advanced to the next grade level or graduated.
88%
who were graduating seniors had college or career plans.
57%
with attendance, grade, and/or disciplinary concerns showed improvement.
2020-21 School Partners Morgan
Public Barr-Reeve Community School Corp. East Gibson School Corp. Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. Loogootee Community School Corp. MSD of Martinsville MSD of Mount Vernon MSD of North Posey Mooresville Consolidated School Corp. North Daviess Community School Corp. North Gibson School Corp. Orleans Community School Corp. Paoli Community School Corp. Pike County School Corp. Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corp. Springs Valley Community School Corp. Warrick County School Corp. Washington Community School Corp.
Charter Joshua Academy Signature School
Monroe
Daviess
Martin Orange
Pike Gibson
Vanderburgh Posey
Warrick
Dubois
Perry * *Serving in 2021-22
Independent & Parochial Catholic Diocese of Evansville Evansville Christian School Evansville Day School
2020-21 Social Work Program Investment: $4,912,604 Youth First Secured
Private Funding
Youth First Secured
Government Funding
29¢ 29¢
School Partner Funding
42¢
111 S.E. Third Street, Suite 405, Evansville, IN • 812-421-8336 • youthfirstinc.org This brief was prepared by Youth First, Inc. in association with Diehl Consulting Group. The information provided in this brief is extracted from the 2020-21 School Social Work Evaluation Results report submitted to Youth First, Inc. by Diehl Consulting Group.