Youth First Social Work Program 2021-22 Academic Year
"You helped me push through so much doubt and helped me graduate high school. I can never thank you enough." – Former student served by a Youth First Social Worker In a year when national leaders sounded the alarm about skyrocketing rates of anxiety, depression, substance use, and suicide, Youth First provided thousands of students with free, in-school access to professional mental health care. The parents of these young people did not need to wait weeks or even months for a first visit―nor were they required to pay $100 or more per session, manage insurance bills, work out transportation, or coordinate multiple scheduling demands. The only requirements for the service were enrollment in the school and parent/caregiver consent.
78
Social Workers
107
K–12 Schools
47,059
Students with Access
Additionally, Youth First Social Workers served the entire school building with tiered programming for larger groups of students and training and support for teachers and parents. As it has for the last 24 years, this comprehensive approach reduced stigma and built the supportive scaffolding everyone needs to overcome obstacles, succeed academically, and pursue safe, healthy, productive lives. The independently evaluated outcomes presented in this brief underscore what school partners have known for years: Youth First Social Workers strengthen kids and families.
Youth First Social Work Strategies 21,567
Students in Educational Presentations
Universal
General Population
1,224
Teachers in Professional Development
Selective
749
Small Groups
Students in Group Sessions
Indicated
35,272
1:1 Support for Individuals
Teacher/Staff Consultations
3,486
Students on Caseload
531
Crisis Interventions
12,913
Immediate Need Interventions
14,768
Parent Consultations
6,313
Referrals to Community Resources
3,486
At-Risk Students Received Individual Services
Through 44,772 Individual or Family Sessions
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Gender 56% 44%
Female Male
Parents Divorced
Race 81% 8% 8% 2% 1%
White Black Multi-Racial Hispanic Other
Economically
53% Disadvantaged 48% or Never Married
History of Family
33% Substance Abuse
History of Family
28% Mental Illness
History of Family
19% Domestic Violence 7%
History of Abuse
Currently Incarcerated Parent
28% and/or Neglect
Community 42% 13% 45%
Urban Suburban Rural
Reason for Referral
Education 77% 23%
Public Private
Living Situation With Parent Relative Non-Family
90% 9% 1%
42%
Mental Health Concern
21%
Academic Concern
19%
Home Life Concern
School Discipline No
Student Assessments Conducted
511
1,664
Suicide Risk
Substance Abuse
7%
Social Support Social Skills Concern
Source of Referral
27% 73%
Yes
11%
41%
Teacher/ Administrator
8%
Social Worker
32%
Parent/ Caregiver
1%
Friend of Student
17%
Student Self-Referral
1%
Mental Health Professional
Strengthened Protective Factors Statistically Significant Improvements from Baseline to 3 Months • Children’s Hope • Resiliency • Coping Skills
• Mood Management • Decision Making • Communication
• Family Conflict • Parent-Child Bonding • Parent Attitude Toward Drug Use
Students and parents reported significant improvements in protective factors in 2021-22.
Reduced Individual Concerns Intensity Rating (5–60)
Reduced Concern for Students 40
Teachers, parents, and students reported significant reduction in the intensity of concerns in 2021-22.
Examples of Individual Concerns
35 30 25 Baseline Teachers Surveyed: 966
3 Months
5 Months
Parents Surveyed: 1,059
• 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 Students Surveyed: 580
Increased School Adjustment Adjustment Score (1–7)
Increased School Adjustment 5.4
Teachers reported significant improvements in school adjustment in 2021-22.
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: 1,158
Decreased Problematic Behaviors Behavior Rating (0–100)
Decreased Problematic Behavior 30
Teachers reported significant decreases in problematic behaviors in elementary students in 2021-22.
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: 544
Positive Academic Progress for 2021-22 Caseload Students
99%
advanced to the next grade level or graduated.
89%
of graduating seniors had college or career plans.
59% with grade concerns showed improvement. 53% with attendance concerns showed improvement. 50% with discipline concerns showed improvement.
2021-22 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. Perry Central Community School Corp. Pike County School Corp. Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corp. South Gibson School Corp. Springs Valley Community School Corp. Warrick County School Corp. Washington Community School Corp.
Charter
Monroe
Lawrence* Daviess
Martin Orange
Pike Gibson
Vanderburgh Posey
Dubois
Warrick
Perry *Serving Mitchell Schools in 2022-23
Joshua Academy Signature School
Independent & Parochial Catholic Diocese of Evansville Evansville Christian School Evansville Day School
2021-22 Social Work Program Investment: $5,789,043 Youth First Secured
Private Funding
Youth First Secured
Government Funding
23¢ 23¢
Temporary School Stimulus Funding
School Partner Funding
7¢ 47¢
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 2021-22 School Social Work Evaluation Results report submitted to Youth First, Inc. by Diehl Consulting Group.