About Corps for a Change
Corps for a Change places caring, near-peer AmeriCorps members in middle and high schools to connect students to critical mental health resources while boosting school engagement, belonging, and connectedness. This program is a key partner in the national Youth Mental Health Corps, which is addressing the youth mental health crisis while giving young adults on-ramps to behavioral health careers.
The youth mental health crisis is impacting thousands of Colorado students. Yet many schools cannot provide individualized support that students need to improve mental health and wellbeing so that they can reengage in their education and thrive. Corps for a Change bridges this gap.
2024-2025 Impact
- 775 students received one-on-one support and resource navigation to improve mental health and reconnect to school, peers, and community
- 91% of students increased skills and protective factors that are strongly tied to positive mental health, school engagement and graduation
Why This Work Matters
- One in four Colorado high school students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness
- Consistent, trusting relationships with caring adults – combined with direct connections to mental health support – is one of the most effective ways to improve youth wellbeing
How AmeriCorps Members Help
- Members are trained as mental health navigators and school engagement specialists, supporting a caseload of 20-40 students who need mental health support and are disconnected from school, peers, and community
- Members build trusting relationships with students, connecting them to life-saving mental health resources and working one-on-one to increase skills, belonging, and connectedness
- Members serve as trusted mentors, liaisons, and resource scouts, helping students navigate through complex systems and being a stable source of ongoing support
- Members also earn Qualified Behavioral Health Assistant credentials and direct on-ramps to careers, making this dual-purpose model the first of its kind, addressing the youth mental health crisis while training the next generation of behavioral health leaders
Interested in Becoming a Corps for a Change Member?
For more information email: CassieD@youthforachange.org
Colorado Youth for a Change will not discriminate for or against any service member or applicant on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, or age. Reasonable accommodation provided upon request.