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| Source: www.pexels.com |
By Sam Piha
AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS CAN HELP
Youth afterschool programs are uniquely positioned to help because they reach young people in informal, trusting environments that often feel safer than school or home. “Research shows that high-quality afterschool programs contribute significantly to positive mental health outcomes, including improved interpersonal skills, self-control, and reduced externalizing behaviors. They offer a vital ‘spectrum of care’ that complements formal education and family support systems.” [i]
According to the Afterschool Alliance, “Afterschool and summer programs play an essential role in supporting the healthy development of young people by serving as a safe space that fosters belonging, develops supportive relationships with peers and adult mentors, encourages healthy behaviors, and helps young people build and cultivate the skills necessary to navigate through the struggles and challenges they may come up against in life.” [ii]
“After-school programs are also another place where kids have the opportunity to have ‘healthy interactions’ with each other and with adults. For example, some programs have brought in mental health professionals to work with students’ emotional needs.” [iii]
Chat GPT writes, “Here’s a clear, research-based overview of how youth programs can help address the mental health crisis:
1. Create Supportive, Trust-Based Environments
- Build belonging and connection — consistent relationships with caring adults buffer against anxiety and depression.
- Train staff in trauma-informed practices so they recognize stress reactions and respond with empathy, not punishment.
- Normalize mental health talk by incorporating check-ins, ‘feelings boards,’ or ‘wellness circles’ into regular activities.
2. Promote Emotional Literacy
- Integrate social-emotional learning (SEL) — teach youth to identify emotions, manage stress, and resolve conflict.
- Use games, art, journaling, or storytelling to help youth process emotions safely.
- Provide short workshops on coping skills (e.g., breathing, mindfulness, self-talk).
3. Early Identification and Support
- Train staff to notice signs of distress (withdrawal, irritability, sleep or appetite changes).
- Establish clear referral pathways to local mental health providers or school counselors.
- Partner with mobile crisis teams or mental health nonprofits for on-site consultation days.
4. Strengthen Family and Community Connections
- Host family nights to share mental health resources and communication tools.
- Partner with schools, clinics, and local organizations to create a continuum of care.
- Encourage mentorship: consistent one-on-one relationships reduce loneliness and self-harm risk.
5. Foster Purpose, Mastery, and Joy
- Provide creative outlets (music, art, dance, theater, sports) — shown to reduce depressive symptoms and improve mood.
- Offer youth a chance to lead projects or volunteer; helping others boosts self-esteem and hope.
- Integrate movement and outdoor time — both improve mood regulation and stress resilience.
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| Source: Temescal Associates |
6. Train and Support Staff (see more below)
- Youth workers often experience ‘secondary trauma.’ Build in staff wellness practices and peer support.
- Provide professional development on: De-escalation and crisis response, Culturally responsive care, Suicide prevention (e.g., QPR or safeTALK training)
7. Advocate and Educate
- Join local coalitions for youth mental health.
- Advocate for funding and policies that increase access to counseling and youth development opportunities.
- Include youth voice in shaping program priorities — feeling heard is itself protective.” [iv]
“Afterschool programs support youth mental health by providing a safe and structured environment, offering access to caring adult mentors, and fostering vital social-emotional skills.”[v]
Best practices for afterschool programs addressing the youth mental health crisis also include,
- Trauma-Informed Care: Adopting a trauma-informed approach ensures the environment is predictable, consistent, and empowering, helping youth feel safe and in control. (To learn more about trauma- informed care, check out our webinar, “Trauma Informed Practice in Afterschool in the Era of COVID-19” and past Learning in Afterschool & Summer (LIAS) Blogs on this topic.)
- Normalization of Mental Health: Talking openly about mental health, similar to physical health, helps to de-stigmatize issues and encourages youth to seek help.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM STAFF WORKING WITH YOUTH WHO MAY HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES?
It is important that program leaders consider the qualifications that their staff need. According to Chat GPT, “Afterschool program staff who work with youth mental health typically have diverse qualifications, ranging from formal degrees to specialized training and certifications. The specific requirements depend on the staff member's role and the services offered. At a minimum, staff should possess strong social-emotional skills like compassion and patience.
According to Google AI, some foundational qualifications needed by afterschool staff working with youth who may have mental health issues are,
- “Educational Background: While not all positions require a degree in a specific field, a background in child psychology, social work, human services, or education (often at the bachelor's level for entry-level positions and master's for supervisory or clinical roles) is highly valued.
- Experience: Prior experience working with adolescents or children in an urban or diverse environment is often preferred.
- Core Competencies: Essential soft skills include:
- Patience and Compassion: Working with youth facing challenges requires a calm and understanding demeanor.
- Strong Interpersonal and Communication Skills: The ability to build rapport and communicate effectively with youth, families, and a multidisciplinary team is crucial.
- Active Listening: The capacity to genuinely listen and pick up on verbal and non-verbal cues is essential.
- Cultural Competence: The ability to work effectively and respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds is a key requirement.
- Creativity and Problem-Solving: Using creative approaches to engage youth and find solutions to challenges.” [vi]
SPECIALIZED STAFF TRAINING FOR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
Even though afterschool staff may have personal attributes that will help them address youth mental health issues, it is important that they also receive specialized training. Below are trainings for afterschool staff on the topic of recognizing and responding to youth mental health issues taken from Google AI:
- “Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA): This is a research-based training that teaches staff to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental distress or crisis, initiate help, and connect youth to professional care through a five-step action plan.
- Trauma-Informed Care: Training on understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects of trauma to create a physically, emotionally, and culturally safe environment.
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Curricula: Familiarity with evidence-based programs that help youth develop emotional awareness, self-regulation, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Crisis Intervention and Prevention: Training on suicide prevention, bullying prevention, and de-escalation techniques.
- Referral Methods: Clear understanding of how to link children and families to experts in youth mental health services when a situation is beyond the scope of the afterschool program.” [vii]
Other specialized trainings recommended for afterschool staff are:
- Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR): Some programs use this training to provide staff with practical skills for suicide prevention.
- 'Notice. Talk. Act.® at School': Developed by the American Psychiatric Association, this training teaches staff how to recognize mental health issues, talk with students about their concerns, and refer them to appropriate resources.
CARE FOR STAFF
This blog is focused on the youth mental health crisis. However, we also need to be mindful of the accumulated stress on the part of staff. We know that stress leads to burn out and staff turnover and can also be detrimental to the young people we are responsible for. How do we go about caring for staff? It is its own topic and too large to fully explore here.
Below is a brief outline regarding strategies to mitigate stress for staff. We’ve divided up the lists regarding organizational strategies and individual vs team-based strategies. According to Google AI, “Addressing staff stress in youth programs requires a two-pronged approach equipping employees with individual coping skills and implementing organizational changes to foster a supportive and sustainable work environment.
Organizational Strategies:
- Manage Workload and Expectations
- Provide Strong Supervisory Support
- Offer Competitive Compensation and Benefits
- Foster a Supportive Work Culture • Prioritize Work-Life Balance and Flexibility
- Invest in Professional Development: are valued and helps combat disengagement.
- Offer Access to Professional Help
Individual and Team-Based Strategies:
- Provide Stress Management Training
- Encourage Self-Care
- Implement Debrief Sessions
- Set Clear Boundaries” [viii]
To learn more about staff self-care, check out our briefing paper, Self-Care for Youth Workers.
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| Source: Chat GPT To learn more about this topic, we developed a briefing paper entitled, How Afterschool Programs Can Address the Youth Mental Health Crisis. |
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