Across the state and country, youth mental health continues to be a priority concern. Children and adolescents are experiencing alarming increases in the prevalence of mental, emotional and physical health conditions while simultaneously facing barriers to accessing professional care and support. The new Michigan 4-H HealthCorps AmeriCorps program aims to address this issue by supporting the mental and physical well-being of Michigan youth.  

Michigan 4-H HealthCorps will place AmeriCorps members across the state to provide educational programming to children and youth that supports positive coping skills, self-care strategies and other health practices that aid mental and physical well-being. The Michigan 4-H HealthCorps program is supported by grants from AmeriCorps and the Michigan Community Service Commission totaling more than $350,000. 

“We’re excited to bring this program to youth across our state and grateful for the partnership with the Michigan Community Service Commission and AmeriCorps,” said Brian Wibby, Michigan State University (MSU) Extension educator, who helped to secure funding for the program. “We’ve seen the power that national service members bring to the local communities in which they serve, and we know they’ll help to make an impact on this pressing issue in our state.” 

Wibby and others at Michigan 4-H applied for the AmeriCorps grant in 2023 as they saw growing trends of mental, emotional and physical health conditions in the state and the U.S. In particular, the rates and prevalence of mental health challenges among BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) youth, LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, plus other sexual and gender minorities) youth, youth with disabilities and youth from other disadvantaged groups have shown sharp increases in recent years. Compounding these challenges is a diminished ability to obtain the support needed; a 2021 study from the Citizens Research Council of Michigan found that more than a third of Michigan’s youth experiencing mental illness were not receiving behavioral health services as a result of provider shortages, service maldistribution, stigma, transportation and payment barriers. 

“At the heart of Michigan 4-H is our mission to help youth thrive in a complex and changing world and what a lot of youth need right now, not just to thrive but to survive, is mental health support,” said Wibby. “The 4-H HealthCorps program will help youth develop important skills for success while also supporting them in being emotionally and physically safe.”  

Michigan 4-H HealthCorps will recruit and place AmeriCorps members in communities across the state. These members will be trained in research-based curriculum that is founded in positive youth development principles to address critical health and mental health needs. AmeriCorps members will then deliver this valuable educational programming to Michigan youth and families through 4-H clubs, family engagements events and facilitated trainings on topics related to substance use and misuse prevention, health and mental health literacy, sleep health, mindfulness, self-care and healthy living. 

Michigan 4-H aims to serve 1,500 youth in the first year of the program, which it hopes to launch in summer or fall 2024. There will be a special emphasis on serving youth involved in the juvenile justice system, immigrant and refugee youth, LGBTQIA+ youth, youth in foster care, youth with disabilities, youth living in poverty and BIPOC youth. To manage the program, MSU Extension recently hired a new AmeriCorps program director, Andrea Villanueva, who began in March. 

“Andrea brings a lot of significant past experience as an AmeriCorps program director with her to MSU Extension,” said Wibby. “She will help us to build a strong program that we can quickly get off the ground and into communities to begin supporting young people.” 

To learn more about the Michigan 4-H HealthCorps program or to support HealthCorps in your area, contact Andrea at villan17@msu.edu.