Improving Social Determinants of Health Factors Through Utilization of a Family Coach

At a Glance

This project, led by Lutheran Social Services (LSS) seeks to improve the mental health crisis facing youth from historically under-resourced neighborhoods in Milwaukee County through the implementation of family coaching services and community engagement that addresses the social factors contributing to poor health and educational outcomes. Joshua Mersky, PhD, The Institute for Child and Family Well-Being, UW–Milwaukee, serves as the academic partner.

The Challenge

The United States is facing a nationwide youth mental health crisis, with rising rates of depression and anxiety and corresponding declines in school attendance and performance. These issues are evident among marginalized youth living in urban settings, where frequent exposure to adverse events and challenging structural conditions, coupled with a lack of access to essential services and resources, intensifies these symptoms. Strong connections with social and community supports have proven to be protective factors against these risks and lay the foundation for fostering youth mental health and family resilience.

Project Goals

The goal of this project is to improve youth mental health in Milwaukee County through the implementation of the School-Centered Mental Health (SCMH) model, which utilizes a family coach to specifically target social determinants of health (SDOH). This goal will be approached through three specific aims:

1. Provide family coaching services addressing SDOH to 240 youth and their families enrolled in Milwaukee partner schools.
2. Provide opportunities for increased community engagement in understanding and addressing SDOH to 100 community stakeholders and families not enrolled in SCMH services.
3. Address the sustainability of SDOH interventions through alignment of advocacy efforts across 15 partner organizations.