Meeting Youth Mental Health Needs
Gateways and BaMidbar are delighted to present Developing Minds, an initiative that aims to strengthen the mental health capacity of youth-serving organizations in our community. This exciting new opportunity is made possible by the generous sponsorship of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP).
Developing Minds is a unique and transformative five-month program that will bring together professionals from various organizations to form a cohort. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with their peers, learn from each other’s experiences, and tap into the collective wisdom of organizations facing similar challenges.
Developing Minds supports both organizational leaders and youth-serving professionals. Participating organizations will be placed into one of two cohorts, each of which will feature two unique learning tracks. Organizational leaders look at mental health capacity through a systems lens, while youth-serving professionals receive training to better support youth.
Two Tracks of Learning
| YOUTH-SERVING PROFESSIONALS Open to ALL professionals at youth-serving organizations | ORGANIZATION LEADERS For 2-4 professionals per organization |
|---|---|
| – Mental Health First Aid – Mental, emotional, and social health for experiential educators – Supporting staff well-being – Closing summit | – Opening summit – Organizational assessment – 4 coaching sessions – Closing summit |
Key Dates
Cohort 1 (Fall 2023)
- Opening Summit: Thursday, October 26 from 9-3
- Closing Summit: Tuesday, February 13 from 9-12
Cohort 2 (Winter 2024)
- Opening Summit: Thursday, February 15 from 9-3
- Closing Summit: Tuesday, June 4 from 9-12
How to Apply
Applications are due by noon on Thursday, September 14, 2023. For any inquiries or assistance with the application, contact Ali Shwartz at .
Is Developing Minds for You?
Developing Minds is designed for youth-serving organizations committed to expanding mental health capacity and helping all youth thrive and fully engage in Jewish life.
The 5-month program will enable organizations to:
- Recognize the impact and prevalence of mental illness and understand how organizations can use Jewish wisdom and community to help young people build resilience and thrive
- Identify the signs and symptoms of mental illness in populations you serve
- Integrate knowledge about mental health and wellness into organizational policies, procedures, and practices to promote inclusion and reduce stigma
- Actively cultivate mental health and wellness within the communities you serve
As part of the cohort, organizations will:
- Engage staff in two separate tracks of learning geared toward organizational leaders and youth-serving professionals
- Conduct an internal assessment of mental health capacity
- Create a sustainable plan for action based on the individualized assessment
- Receive coaching to support implementation of that plan