Our Process
Communities for Youth
We all have an important role to play in preventing youth behavioral health struggles including substance use and mental health concerns. We use an evidence-backed process that helps schools, parents, and communities come together to prevent youth challenges long before they negatively impact young people’s health, well-being, and academic achievement.
Of course, we know schools and communities cannot and should not be expected to do this alone. We offer a variety of partnership options that schools/districts and communities can choose from to fit their unique needs and context.
Jump to:
What is upstream prevention?
Upstream prevention or “moving upstream” means preventing negative outcomes long before they occur rather than reacting or responding to an issue that has become severe. ​
Prevention over Postvention
For youth mental health, that means creating and sustaining community conditions that support young people and their families rather than relying solely on mental health providers or other emergency responders.
Community as the Focus
We wholeheartedly support those who support youth with mental health treatment and services, but we know an all hands on deck approach is needed to truly change the youth mental health landscape in Idaho. That’s why the Communities for Youth process empowers whole communities to move their prevention efforts upstream.
All of Us Can Contribute
​Everyone has a role to play in building the best possible communities for young people. This includes parents, extended family members, teachers, coaches, youth development professionals, faith leaders and members of the business community.
Benefits of The Upstream Prevention Approach
1
Creates conditions for youth that bolster positive experiences and limit negative experiences or harm experienced by young people so that poor outcomes are less likely to occur.
2
The second step is collecting information from teens in your community to better understand their experiences, and the things in their lives that may be hurting or helping their health. This step is usually completed in collaboration with local schools.
3
The final step is to sustain momentum for building the best possible community for young people. Regular youth data collection helps communities check their progress. Growing the coalition helps create new opportunities to support young people.
4
The third step is sharing the youth data, evidence on what works, and your knowledge of your community to determine ways to address challenges or promote strengths related to youth well-being locally.
Data-Driven Community Engagement
Regional Initiative Process
Once a community shows interest in building a coalition, there are four core steps that lead to a Regional Initiative. Each community is unique, which can call for slight variations to cater to specific needs. Most importantly, the process of Upstream Prevention is cyclical - a repetitive practice for success. Positive outcomes require continuous effort to maintain youth mental health.
The first step is convening members of your community that want to help young people thrive. Coalitions can include everyone from educators and service providers to youth, parents and extended family, to policy makers, the business community and others.
The final step is to sustain momentum for building the best possible community for young people.
Regular youth data collection helps communities check their progress. Growing the coalition helps create new opportunities to support young people.
The third step is sharing the youth data, evidence on what works, and your knowledge of your community to determine ways to address challenges or promote strengths related to youth well-being locally.
The second step is collecting information from teens in your community to better understand their experiences, and the things in their lives that may be hurting or helping their health. This step is usually completed in collaboration with local schools.
1. Build a Community Coalition
The first step is convening members of your community that want to help young people thrive. Coalitions can include everyone from educators and service providers to youth, parents and extended family, to policy makers, the business community and others.
2. Center the Youth Experience
The second step is collecting information from teens in your community to better understand their experiences, and the things in their lives that may be hurting or helping their health. This step is usually completed in collaboration with local schools.
3. Set Goals and Take Action
The third step is sharing the youth data, evidence on what works, and your knowledge of your community to determine ways to address challenges or promote strengths related to youth well-being locally.
4. Keep the Conversation Going
The final step is to sustain momentum for building the best possible community for young people. Regular youth data collection helps communities check their progress. Growing the coalition helps create new opportunities to support young people.
Learn More
Upstream Prevention Webinar
Dr. Megan Smith discusses the Icelandic Prevention model and how it influences Communities for Youth's approach.
.jpeg)