Fayette Youth Behavioral Health Alliance
Together for Our Youth: Building a Healthier Future in Fayette County
OUR PURPOSE
The Fayette Youth Behavioral Health Alliance is a county-wide collaboration dedicated to improving the mental and behavioral well-being of youth ages 10–19. We bring together parents, schools, healthcare providers, nonprofits, faith leaders, civic groups, and youth themselves to listen, learn, and lead toward real solutions.
We celebrate the diverse cultures, experiences, and voices that make up Fayette County, striving for an inclusive and equitable approach in all we do. We approach youth engagement with sensitivity to lived experiences and emotional safety. All participation is voluntary and confidential, with information used only to inform community planning.
Our immediate focus is an 8-month Community Needs Assessment that will identify the strengths, gaps, and opportunities in Fayette County’s behavioral health landscape. The outcome will be a clear, data-driven action plan to guide change.
Why This Matters:
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- 1 in 5 teens has a diagnosed mental or behavioral health condition.
- Adolescent diagnoses rose 35% between 2016 and 2023 – anxiety up 61% and depression up 45%.
- Fewer than 6 in 10 youths say they receive the social and emotional support they need.
These numbers are not just statistics; they are our neighbors, students, children, and community’s future.
Source: HRSA Maternal & Child Health – National Survey of Children’s Health, Adolescent Mental and Behavioral Health, 2023, Data Brief | October 2024
How We Create Change:
✔ Listening to youth, parents, educators, and providers through surveys, interviews, and forums
✔ Analyzing data from schools, healthcare, nonprofits, courts, and police reports
✔ Mapping existing services and uncovering gaps
✔ Building an inclusive, equitable action plan
✔ Mobilizing the community for sustainable impact
How You Can Help:
- Join the Alliance as a member or organizational partner: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pjQyO4BnofYE0bkIpd0aj5Jo3Y_R32_t85vYPiFWL9w/edit
- Volunteer on an Action Team: Surveys/Focus Groups, Data Research & Analysis, Resource Development, Youth Engagement, Public Engagement, Equity & Ethics
- Champion youth mental health in your networks, schools, and community spaces.
- We especially encourage youth participation to ensure their perspectives and experiences guide every step of our work.
- Support us with financial contributions or connect us with sponsors and donors. Donate here: https://fayettefactor.org/youth-behavioral-health-alliance/
Your Sponsorship Fuels Change:
Together, we are building the foundation for a stronger, more connected system of youth mental health support in Fayette County.
Your investment makes it possible to:
- Create awareness and connection through outreach materials, events, and partnerships linking families, schools, and service providers
- Collect and analyze data to ensure community decisions are guided by reliable, local behavioral health information
- Host public forum that brings voices and ideas together
- Support coordination and communication tools that keep our diverse partners aligned and moving forward
- Turn volunteer dedication into measurable, lasting impact
Every contribution helps Fayette’s youth thrive.
Why Partner with Us?
- Shape the future of youth mental health in Fayette County
- Strengthen connections across schools, healthcare, nonprofits, and families
- Contribute to a data-driven plan with measurable community impact
- Be recognized as a visible supporter of youth and family well-being