This project, led by La Crosse County Human Services, aimed to enhance the La Crosse System of Care (SOC) through the addition of two part-time community cultural liaisons to help address the social and emotional health needs of adolescents. The La Crosse SOC supports youth by prioritizing mental health, safety and self-sufficiency over punitive measures, through a partnership between the School District of La Crosse and La Crosse County. Nearly 50 percent of referred youth are racially diverse, highlighting the need for more cultural liaisons to address current racial tensions and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on minority communities.
The project successfully improved the La Crosse SOC and advanced adolescents’ social and emotional health by forming meaningful connections between 49 Black youth and caring adults. This led to improved school attendance, participation in activities and greater parental involvement. The project also increased workforce diversity and community support capacity by adding cultural liaison positions. Finally, La Crosse County Human Services strengthened and expanded networks and partnerships which created opportunities for youth and supported parents and caregivers.
The Challenge
Established in 2016, the La Crosse System of Care (SOC) aims to support youth through an integrated system that prioritizes mental health, safety from abuse and self-sufficiency over punitive measures like arrests and referrals to youth justice. This initiative represents a partnership between the School District of La Crosse and La Crosse County, focusing on philosophical and systemic changes to reduce youth arrests. Nearly 50 percent of the youth referred to SOC are racially diverse, yet the district employs only one cultural liaison to support Black youth. This is insufficient given the current racial tensions and the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on minority communities and individuals. To address these challenges effectively, it is crucial to have more positive adults of color available to support Black youth.
Project Goals
La Crosse County Human Services’ goal was to enhance the La Crosse SOC by adding two part-time community cultural liaisons, contracted through the local non-profit agency Hope Restores. The project planned to target the social and emotional health needs of adolescents between the ages of 10 and 18 who have been highly impacted by COVID-19. The aims of the project included creating meaningful connections with Black youth, linking them to community resources to build resilience and social support, increasing access to culturally responsive services through workforce diversification and training parents and caregivers to better support their families’ social and emotional needs.
Results
This project was successful in improving the La Crosse SOC and advancing the social and emotional health of adolescents in the community. Meaningful connections were formed between 49 local Black youth and caring adults, leading to improved school attendance, increased participation in pro-social activities like basketball and summer educational trips and greater involvement from parents and guardians. The targeted support led to significant behavior improvements, with many youth obtaining employment and completing driver’s education. The project also increased workforce diversity and enhanced the community’s capacity to support youth by adding several community cultural liaison positions. The cultural liaisons received training in brain development, youth needs, trauma-informed care and motivational interviewing to advance the effectiveness of their services.
The project strengthened and expanded several networks and partnerships, including new collaborations with Together For Youth and Alliance to Heal, continued engagement with Better Together and La Crosse Community Foundation and enhanced relationships with Hope Restores. Regular bi-weekly meetings with Community Youth Supports, expanded presence in the school district and partnership with La Crosse YMCA further supported youth programming and services, including a basketball program. These expanded networks and partnerships significantly contributed to the project’s success in creating opportunities for youth, increasing access to services and supporting parents and caregivers through various community events and training programs.
