Special to the Transcript
It’s been 25 years and CASA has a lot to celebrate. Community Action for Safe Alternatives (CASA) is a non-profit organization in Winthrop with the following mission:
In collaboration with community partners, CASA offers no-cost, safe, inclusive programming with opportunities to build resiliency, foster social emotional learning skills, and address mental health needs for youth and families. Through outreach and initiatives, we aim to empower youth to actively engage in their communities and to reach their full potential.
CASA accomplishes this by using data driven environmental strategies to reduce risk by increasing protective factors for all youth and families. CASA collects, and in collaboration with our partners, analyzes gaps in services. Through community coalition-building and direct services, CASA works to fill these gaps and support existing efforts that work toward our mission. The Winthrop Youth Providers Network is a coalition of community partners and all are welcome. CASA believes that youth issues are community issues and there is a seat at the table for everyone when addressing them. The newest work group is the Equitable Family Engagement Network that supports immigrant and low-income families with a trauma informed lens. The network is a partnership with the Health Department, the English Learners Parent Action Committee and the Winthrop Parent’s Network. Recently, this effort provided books in multiple languages to all schools, the Winthrop Public Library and the Winthrop Parent’s Network, as well as welcome bags with a resource guide (available in multiple languages).
The Youth Mental Health Workgroup was created to address growing concerns around data being reported by Winthrop youth. Just as we are seeing nationwide, we know young people in Winthrop are struggling with their mental health now more than ever. The data, from the last three Winthrop Prevention Needs Assessment surveys of 6th-12th graders, gives a snapshot of how youth in our community are feeling.
“These surveys and feedback from the community drives us to seek funding in order to offer the programs and services that are critically needed in our Winthrop community,†said Amy Epstein, CASA’s Executive Director.
The group’s multiple strategies include training CASA’s leadership team to facilitate mental health related trainings such as youth mental health first aid (YMHFA), teen mental health first aid (tMHFA) and Healthy Outcomes of Positive Experiences (HOPE), and providing a clinical intern to offer free services as well as the implementation of our Social Marketing Campaign about being a Trusted Adult. A trusted adult is chosen by the young person as a safe figure that listens without judgment, agenda or expectation, but with the sole purpose of supporting and encouraging positivity within a young person’s life. Some ways they might do this include: assessing and addressing their needs, encouraging teamwork with other youth, building a network to include many adults so there is more than one trusted adult in their life, understanding relationships with other youth and other adults and listening and offering advice and guidance without lecturing or making them feel less than. Research shows evidence of positive outcomes from youth having a trusted adult in their life. The campaign includes Improved mental health and wellbeing, as a result of having someone to turn to who enables young people to explore issues in a safe environment without judgment. Mitigated effects of abuse and trauma, as those with trusted adults in their lives can be more protected from child abuse, and protected against the long term effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Positive educational outcomes, as those with access to trusted adults are more ambitious in their educational expectations and goals due to having a positive role model.
In an effort to increase protective factors and fill community gaps, CASA has prioritized FREE direct services for youth in the 6-12th grades. Daily Drop-In is open to any Winthrop Middle Schoolers. Boys Group and Girls Groups meet weekly. Q Club is a community based drop in for LGBTQ youth. Our College & Career Readiness program,Youthworks, (in Partnership with WPS) has supported high school students with their path to working and applying to college or with post high school options. Strong community partnerships allow for programs like CASA’s middle school mentors summer program (in partnership with 21st CCLC at the Cummings School) and the Winthrop Police Department’s Open Rec onFriday Nights. CASA also hosts community events like movie nights, mini golf, a haunted house every fall, and laser tag.
To learn more about the Trusted Adult campaign or join our listserv, visit our website at winthropcasa.org. Please follow us on facebook and instagram, and join us for our Monthly Coalition Meetings or any of our community workgroups. For more information contact [email protected].