Program Description

Through Minnesota’s Youth Mental Health Corps, you can explore career pathways into behavioral health, all while serving in schools and community organizations to boost Minnesota’s youth mental health strategy.

School-based pathway:

• Must be 18 - 24 years old to serve
• Serve in schools and community organizations to support mental health and wellness of youth
• YMHC activities may include: work with 6th - 12th grade students 1:1 and in small groups to reduce school dropout and improve attendance
• Manage a caseload of 30 students for a minimum of 12 weeks to provide student-centered support
• Receive training in areas such as Boundaries and Mandated Reporting, Motivational Interviewing, and Cultural Competency & Cultural Humility
• Earn certifications such as Youth Mental Health First Aid Training, Narcan Administration, and General First Aid and CPR

Recovery specialist pathway:

• Must be 18 – 29 years old with at least one uninterrupted year in recovery from a substance use disorder by the start date to serve
• Serve in community organizations and local clinics
• Offer peer support, mentoring, and resource navigation for individuals in their recovery journey
• Receive training on relationship building, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, and recovery resource navigation
• Earn a Peer Recovery Specialist (CRPS) Certification