The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1400710
YOUTH FIRST TODAY By Parri O. Black Youth First, Inc. The start of the school year is here. Children, teachers and other school staff are not the only ones going back to school this month. Youth First Social Workers are also back on the job and ready to as- sist students, families and educators. The pandemic and now even the Olym- pics are highlighting the critical impor- tance of mental health. World class ath- letes like Simone Biles, Michael Phelps and Naomi Osaka remind us that every- one, no matter their status or achieve- ments, can benefit from supportive men- tal health coaching. Over 23 years ago, Youth First was started by a passionate group of people who knew our community could do more to prevent substance abuse, suicide, child abuse, and other trauma in the lives of children. A fter experiencing substantial growth through the years, Youth First is now rec- ognized across the state as a leader in evi- dence-based prevention, with Youth First Social Workers acting as mental health coaches for students, families and edu- cators. This coming school year, 66 Youth First Social Workers and prevention programs will be embedded in 93 part- ner schools across 12 Indiana counties. They help students and their families overcome challenges by connecting them to community resources and developing critical life skills. Youth First Social Workers provide a link between home, school and commu- nity to strengthen the mental health and well-being of students so they can suc- ceed in school and in life. In fact, you could say that Youth First was made for a time such as this… we have the know-how, experience, skilled professionals, partnerships, funding model, leadership, and advocates nec- essary to make sure kids are cared for during turbulent times and beyond. Tragically, this past school year, Youth First Social Workers supported 84 stu- dents who lost a loved one to Covid-19. Thank goodness, our partner schools were open most of the time, because we also saw a 40 percent jump in life-threat- ening crises, from 335 in the previous year to 468 crisis interventions last year, almost all for suicide risk. What would have happened to those young people who were dealing with iso- lation, fear, loss, depression, anxiety and more if they remained home and no one had eyes on them? It's terrifying to con- template. As educators remained in schools and classrooms last year under unprecedent- ed stress, Youth First Social Workers were there to offer teachers and admin- istrators self-care trainings and support. Not surprisingly, teacher-staff consulta- tions jumped by an astounding 60 per- cent – from 20,000 two years ago to over 32,000 last year. Youth First is prepared for a time such as this – when the needs are even great- er. We are 100 % dedicated to strength- ening the mental health, resilience, and well-being of our community's children. All of this is provided for a fraction of the cost to schools, and of course, it's free to students, families, and educators. Youth First is committed to fundraising for private dollars and securing govern- ment grants to ensure that school fees are affordable and services are sustain- able for the long-haul. Our partnering schools can testify to the value. Youth First's expertise is es- sential, and our social workers are sec- ond to none. Principals see fewer fre- quent flyers in the office, better engage- ment with parents, and more students using coping skills to manage their emo- tions. We also collect pre-post test data and conduct independent evaluations that back up those observations. As the new school year begins, Youth First Social Workers are on the job and ready to act as mental health coaches, helping students, families, and educators successfully clear stressful hurdles and confidently cross the finish line for the gold medal in resilience. Parri O. Black is the President & CEO of Youth First, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening youth and families. The organization embeds 66 Master's level so- cial workers in 93 schools across 12 Indi- ana counties. Over 60,000 youth and fam- ilies per year are served by Youth First's school social work and after school pro- grams that prevent substance abuse, pro- mote healthy behaviors and maximize stu- dent success. To learn more about Youth First, visit youthfirstinc.org or call 812- 421-8336. Mental health SUPPORT FOR KIDS ITALIAN SAUSAGE RIGATONI BAKE MEALS IN Monica's MINUTES By Monica Sinclair How was the start of school for everyone? I hope ev- erything went well. It's the second week of casseroles and I have a really flavorful one for you this week. If you love Italian flavors, this will definitely be one you will want to make. In addition, it uses Italian sausage instead of ground beef. Yum! It only has eight ingredients and should take less than an hour to prepare. Enjoy! INGREDIENTS • 1 package (16 ounces) rigatoni • 1 pound bulk Italian sausage • 1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms • 1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped • 5 cups marinara sauce • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese • 2 tablespoons half-and-half cream • 1 pound sliced part-skim mozzarella cheese DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 375°. Cook rigatoni according to pack- age directions; drain. 2. In a large skillet, cook sausage, mushrooms and pep- per over medium-high heat until sausage is no lon- ger pink and vegetables are tender, breaking up sau- sage into crumbles, 8 -10 minutes; drain. Stir in mar- inara sauce, Parmesan cheese and cream. Add riga- toni and toss to coat. 3. In each of 2 greased 8 -in. square baking dishes, lay- er one-fourth of the rigatoni mixture and one-fourth of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Bake, un- covered, until heated through and cheese is melted, 25 -35 minutes. (Cover loosely with foil if tops brown too quickly.) Source: tasteof home.com The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, August 11, 2021 C-1 HOME LIFE TO ADVERTISE: Call: 812-354-8500 Email: ads@pressdispatch.net Visit: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg Deadline: 5 p.m. on Monday PRICE LOWERED JULY 7! PRICE REDUCED! Comm. building built in 1987 and was used as a retail hardware store until 2018. Approximately 4,448 sq. ft. The building is all open and has free span trusses that make the area open to any kind of use. Open fenced area in rear, with a 24'x86' open three-sided storage building. The main building had a new roof installed in 2016, along with new gutter and new metal siding on the east and west gable ends. New Price $80,000. MLS# 202046722 Eddie Boyd, Principal Broker Kay Helfen Associate Broker 812-582-1145 Addey Boyd Associate Broker 812-354-5599 Keith Shoultz Associate Broker 812-664-6640 Adam Boyd Associate Broker 812-582-2486 602 E. Main, Petersburg | www.BoydRealtyCo.com | Phone: 812-354-8893 SIAR REALTY & DEVELOPMENT LLC BOYD For personal service, chse 2-3 bedroom bungalow with nice 2-car garage on small lot in Petersburg. Sale Price Now $60,000. MLS# 202121005 This property has a total of 4 units. The main house has one three bedroom unit and one two bedroom. The other two houses on the property feature one bedroom, one bath. Sale Price $75,000. MLS# 202123982 SALE PENDING! NEW LISTING! SALE PENDING! Fantastic parcel of farm ground. Sale Price $739,500. MLS# 202117269 This property has a total of 3 units. The front unit features a 3 bedroom plus office. The rear unit has 4 bedrooms and an office. The upstairs unit is a one bed studio style apartment. Sale Price $75,000. MLS# 202124068 SALE PENDING! Three bedroom, two bath brick home sitting on a large 1.84 acre lot. This home features a two car attached garage with brand new garage doors and an additional garage door in the back for the mower or ATV. The back yard would be a great spot for a pool, parties, and entertaining. Sale Price $170,000. MLS# 202127071 This 3 bedroom 1 bath house is situated on a large lot with basically half of a city block directly across the road. The home features hardwood floors in the bedrooms and living room. The kitchen has a fresh new renovation and new vinyl floors. If peace and quiet are what you are looking for this is the place for you. Sale Price $139,000. MLS# 202130566 Large lot near town. This 3 bedroom, 3 full bath is great for growing families. The spacious floor plan has a formal dining room, eat-in kitchen, a living room and a separate family room open to the kitchen. Nearly 1.5 acres. With a two-car attached garage and an additional two-car detached garage. Sale Price $198,500. MLS# 202131116 NEW LISTING! NEW LISTING! NEW LISTING! SALE PENDING! Home has had major improvements and renovations. New additions were added for the dining room area and laundry area with a 23'x8' walk-in closet. Kitchen area, master bath and bedroom area were completely reconstructed. Basement also has a garage door. The detached 4-car garage that has a storage area in the attic. A second 1-car garage. Price Reduced to $197,500. MLS# 202125894 SALE PENDING! Collins St. STORAGE UNITS in Winslow $60/Month 812-354-8893