Reimagine Black Youth Mental Health

Reimagine Black Youth Mental Health

The Reimagine Black Youth Mental Health initiative will change systems to improve youth mental health by implementing a youth-centered and community driven process to identify, analyze, implement and evaluate specific policy changes in a range of settings.

Background

The relentless traumatic harm caused to black youth continues to present as a consistent trigger and mental health stressor. The reoccurring experiences have caused embedded moral and psychic traumas to black youth. The unpresented rate of youth mental health concerns and suicide are alarming statistics (Surgeon General, 2021).

BBAY City, County, College and Community partners are in collaboration with the MN department of Health to initiate, co-create and implement the Reimagine Black Youth Mental Health initiative. As the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, civil unrest and systemic racism continue to negatively impact the wellbeing and mental health of black youth in Brooklyn Center & Brooklyn Park, BBAY in collaboration with community partners, will focus on three goals, addressing key elements in the youth population, increase utilization of a policy process that engages black youth and communities and increase utilization of mental health in all policies approach.

In an effort for black youth to reach their maximum mental health and wellbeing, we must shift from centering illness to community policies and practices that will have crossover impacts on mental health (RWJ, 2014).

To reimagine, we must center young people and engage in new ways. We were inspired by the Reimagine Richfield project of 2019 and met with school leaders to learn about their journey in unlocking student success by taking action on policies identified by students. Thank you to them for sharing their expertise with us.

BYMH Advisory

To advance our shared goals the BBA and in partnership with Minnesota Department of Health, we seek to establish a multi-sector Black Youth Mental Health Advisory Council of 15-20 members whose charge will be to provide direction and ensure the successful implementation of the BYMH Policy Initiative. 

Advisory Council members are charged to represent youth ages 10-17 who are members of the black diaspora in the cities of Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park; this includes for the purpose of this initiative the term Black includes African Americans and individuals from the continent of Africa, the Caribbean, and other parts of the world with African ancestry who are living in the United States. Youth is defined developmentally as children, early adolescence and adolescence, ages 10 – 17.

Composition of the council will include:
  • Young People ages 16- 24, (5-6)
  • Community development, Public Health and Education (both during school and out of school time) partners serving youth 10-17, (6-7)
  • Youth Serving Organizations both public and private, (6-7) 
  • MDH, County and BBAY project coordinators 

Three Year Plan 



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