Building hope Expands Focus to Address Mental Health Needs of Young Children in Summit County
Table of Contents
- 1. Building hope Expands Focus to Address Mental Health Needs of Young Children in Summit County
- 2. Focus on Early Intervention
- 3. Addressing the Gaps in Mental Health Services
- 4. Supporting Mental Health Providers
- 5. Positive Trends in Youth Mental Health
- 6. Partnership with Paragon Behavioral Health Connections
- 7. Looking Ahead
- 8. >How are Building Hope’s 119 grants supporting access to mental health care for families in Summit County, particularly for younger populations?
- 9. Building Hope’s Kellyn Ender on Expanding Mental Health Services for Young Children in Summit County
- 10. Early Intervention is Key: A Conversation with Kellyn Ender
- 11. Addressing the Gaps in Mental Health Services for Children
- 12. Supporting Mental health Providers Through Grants
- 13. Positive Trends in Youth Mental Health and Future data Collection
- 14. Partnership with Paragon Behavioral Health Connections
- 15. Looking Ahead: Building a Healthier Community
Building Hope, a Summit County mental health nonprofit, is broadening its scope to better serve young children. Founded nearly a decade ago, the institution has provided thousands of therapy sessions through scholarships.
Focus on Early Intervention
At a Feb. 25 meeting, Building Hope Executive Director Kellyn Ender told Breckenridge Town Council members that while adolescents and adults have been the primary focus, community partners recognize a critical need for increased attention on younger children. Ender stated, “We need more play therapists, and we need more family support, parenting support, things like that for those younger folks … we have gaps in that sort of system.”
Addressing the Gaps in Mental Health Services
Building Hope is taking immediate action by gathering details from providers and community organizations to evaluate existing programs and funding options. A key strategy involves providing financial support to small mental health providers, such as local therapist offices, which form the backbone of mental health services in the area.
Supporting Mental Health Providers
In a significant move to bolster the local mental health infrastructure, Building Hope distributed 119 grants to mental health providers and peer professionals. These grants support professional development, licensing supervision, paid internships, and peer-led support groups.
According to Ender, “Most substantially, that has helped with the insurance game here in Summit. we have worked with credentialing programs and a third-party billing program so that we can work with the providers to not only accept the insurance, but then use billing services as a part of their practise benefit.”
These efforts have improved access to care and increased the capacity of providers to accept more patients. Ongoing efforts are focused on addressing gaps in bilingual mental health care by attracting more providers to the area and expanding telehealth opportunities.
Positive Trends in Youth Mental Health
A recent survey indicates positive trends in youth mental health. The percentage of Summit High School students experiencing prolonged sadness or hopelessness decreased from 30% to 20% between 2019 and 2023. Additionally, excessive alcohol use among this age group also declined by approximately 20% during the same period.
Ender noted,”We don’t have information or too much reporting on if they’re switching to a diffrent drug of choice,” emphasizing the need for more data collection in this area.
Partnership with Paragon Behavioral Health Connections
Building Hope has established a partnership with Paragon Behavioral Health Connections, a mobile crisis response program that operates independently of law enforcement, unlike the Summit County Sheriff’s Office’s SMART program.
Paragon Behavioral Health Connections,a Lakewood-based organization,utilizes an integrated technology platform to provide immediate support in both rural and urban areas. Ender explained, “They have a paired response if needed, through the fire department or paramedics, but they respond to all the mobile crisis that comes through our state line or 988, the national line.”
The organization offers a community stabilization program, providing ongoing support to clients who contact the 988 line for two to three weeks following a crisis, including comprehensive wrap-around services for adolescents.
Looking Ahead
Building Hope’s proactive approach to expanding mental health services for young children in Summit County is a crucial step in fostering a healthier community.By focusing on early intervention, supporting local providers, and leveraging innovative partnerships, Building Hope is making a tangible difference in the lives of children and families. To learn more about Building Hope and its initiatives, visit their website and consider donating to support their critical work.
>How are Building Hope’s 119 grants supporting access to mental health care for families in Summit County, particularly for younger populations?
Building Hope’s Kellyn Ender on Expanding Mental Health Services for Young Children in Summit County
Archyde News recently sat down with Kellyn Ender, executive Director of Building Hope, a Summit County mental health nonprofit, to discuss their expanded focus on early intervention and the mental health needs of young children. Here’s what she had to say:
Early Intervention is Key: A Conversation with Kellyn Ender
Archyde: Kellyn, thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. Building Hope has been a vital resource for mental health in Summit County for nearly a decade. Can you tell us more about your recent decision to focus on younger children?
Kellyn Ender: Absolutely. While we’ve served adolescents and adults, community partners have shown us there’s a significant unmet need for mental health services for our youngest residents. We’re seeing a lack of play therapists and sufficient family and parenting support. Early intervention is crucial for setting children on a healthy developmental path, and we’re committed to filling those gaps.
Addressing the Gaps in Mental Health Services for Children
Archyde: What specific steps are Building Hope taking to address these gaps in mental health services for young children?
Kellyn Ender: we’re actively gathering insights from providers and community organizations to understand the existing landscape and funding possibilities. A key strategy is providing financial support to our local therapists and small mental health practices. They are the backbone of mental health care in Summit County, and we are committed to supporting their efforts to serve children.
Supporting Mental health Providers Through Grants
Archyde: Your organization has distributed 119 grants to mental health providers. How are these grants supporting the provision of services, particularly for younger populations?
Kellyn Ender: these grants support vital professional advancement, licensing supervision, paid internships, and even peer-led support groups. Importantly, we’re helping providers navigate the often-complex world of insurance credentialing and billing through a third-party program. This helps them accept insurance, making mental health care more accessible to families in Summit County. We’re also focused on increasing access to bilingual mental health services and expanding telehealth opportunities.
Positive Trends in Youth Mental Health and Future data Collection
Archyde: The recent survey showing positive trends in youth mental health in Summit High School is encouraging. Can you elaborate on the findings?
Kellyn Ender: We’re incredibly pleased to see a decrease in the percentage of students experiencing prolonged sadness or hopelessness and a decline in excessive alcohol use. however, we recognize the need for more data collection. We need more reporting on if they’re switching to a different drug of choice. Continued monitoring and data analysis are essential to understanding the full picture and adapting our services accordingly.
Partnership with Paragon Behavioral Health Connections
Archyde: Building Hope has partnered with Paragon behavioral Health Connections. How will that partnership benefit the community?
Kellyn Ender: Paragon offers a mobile crisis response program, self-reliant of law enforcement, utilizing an integrated technology platform to provide immediate support in both rural and urban areas. They provide a paired response (fire department or paramedics) and respond to mobile crisis calls through our state line or the 988 national line. They also offer a community stabilization program, providing ongoing support for two to three weeks following a crisis, including comprehensive wrap-around services for adolescents.
Looking Ahead: Building a Healthier Community
Archyde: What is your vision for the future of mental health support for children in Summit County?
Kellyn Ender: My vision is a community where every child has access to the mental health resources they need to thrive. This means continued collaboration with community partners, increased funding for early intervention programs, and a strong, supported network of mental health professionals. By working together, we can build a healthier and more resilient future for our children and families.
Archyde: Kellyn, thank you for sharing your insights and the significant work Building Hope is doing.What can our readers do to support your efforts?
Kellyn Ender: Visit our website to learn more and consider donating to support our critical work. Together, we can make a tangible difference in the lives of children and families in Summit County.
Archyde: for our readers: What proactive steps do you believe families and communities can take to foster positive mental health in young children? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
