I Got You: Healthy Life Choices for Teens (IGU)

Description

With federal grant support, the "I Got You: Healthy Life Choices for Teens" (IGU) program was created in 2015 by individuals working for the previously existing Central Mississippi Residential Center. The program's goal: delivering mental health education to students in rural east central Mississippi. Also geared to decreasing behavior-related discipline referrals in schools, the program's objectives were rooted in teaching age-appropriate basics of mental health and well-being. Expectations at program's completion were the increased ability to identify high risk behavior, understand why it is important to seek help, and become familiar with available resources that provide that assistance.

Since the program's origins, an increasing number of schools, mental health organizations, and domestic violence shelters have requested the program — also including state agencies like the Mississippi Attorney General's Office and the Mississippi Department of Education. The Mississippi State Troopers Association also not only added state-wide promotional support but are active program participants. In recent years, the Mississippi Department of Transportation has joined the list of supporters and participants, along with the state's 988 provider.

Growing engagement and evolving social culture has necessitated that the IGU curriculum evolve. Originally modeled after the evidenced-based SOS Signs of Suicide Prevention® Program, the current IGU curriculum is delivered during a day-long intensive that provides youth and teens with tools to address mental health challenges for themselves and be of potential assistance to others. Presenters review age-appropriate suicide prevention approaches, discuss issues linked to domestic violence, and provide education around substance use. An important curriculum element is not just focusing on the identification of these situations but providing participants with the "how-tos" of accessing available resources that can offer urgent and long-term solutions. For example, use of the 988 number.

In the initial years of the program, students were scheduled to attend sessions at Central Mississippi Residential Center (CMRC) in Newton and several other locations, such as Mississippi's community colleges. Transportation was arranged by their schools. With time, the need for more physical presentation sites grew with the program's reputation and today's programs are now actually hosted by many community colleges across the state, as well as Mississippi's higher education institutions, such as University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University.

Continued success leading to an increasing number of requests has eventually exceeded the program's resources. However, the current program delivery still reaches well beyond the original eight Mississippi county participants included in the original grant funding. Within two years of its start, the program was in 15 counties and in 2023, over 20 counties across the state received the education. Prior to 2020, class size was usually around 800 with an annual reach to about 5,000 students. Since 2020, class size ranges from 100-200 students with an annual reach of about 3,000 students.

In recent years, new interest in better understanding the I Got U program has come from other professions linked to the health and well-being of Mississippi's youth. For example, a group of Mississippi librarians.

This program received initial support from a 2012-2015 Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Rural Health Care Services Outreach grant.

Services offered

To prepare for the IGU workshops, program leaders assist with:

• Identification of participating schools in order to coordinate program presentation dates and logistics
• Enlist topic speakers
• Collect and analyze program data

Curriculum includes a basic overview of understanding behavioral and mental health issues and covers the following:

• Alcohol and drug prevention
  • Use of "drunk and drug goggles" (also known as fatal vision goggles) while driving a golf cart to simulate impairment
• Suicide prevention
• Domestic violence and unhealthy relationships
• Self-injurious behaviors
• Cyberbullying, sexting, and impersonations

Results

Prior to 2020, class participant size neared 800 with an annual reach to about 5,000 students. Since 2020, class size is100-200 students with an annual reach of 3,000 students.

Although geared to 8th graders, the program's early popularity flexed attendees age to sometimes include 7th graders. With initial program dissemination came a demand for repeat participation for previous participants now in 10th grade with participant numbers reaching into the 6,000s. However, recent program resource limitations haven't allowed for repeat presentations or much program expansion.

Program results come from evaluations/post-participation surveys with a few included here:

• Improved self-concept
• Improved awareness of healthy relationships
• Stronger anti-bullying orientations
• Stronger anti-drug dispositions
• Increased willingness to confide in an adult
• Decreased stigmatization of mental illness
• Greater mental health awareness
• Increased awareness of behavioral health resources to assist youth

Early program data demonstrated that 95% of students believed the program would make a difference in their lives and 80% reported they "learned a lot" from the program. Participating schools reported academic performance improvements, improved student coping behaviors and decreased behavior-related office referrals.

For more information on this program's results:

Bartkowski, J. Xiaothe, X., Avery, J., Ferguson, D., Johnson, F. Good Things in Small Packages? Evaluating an Economy of Scale Approach to Behavioral Health Promotion in Rural America. 2018. J — Multidisciplinary Scientific Journal. 1(1), 42-56.

Challenges

Current challenges include program delivery requests that exceed funding support and staff and space capacity, especially the ability to accommodate requested program redux for 10th graders or respond to new presentation requests in order to reach some of the state's college freshmen.

Replication

In order to create a similar program, it is important to:

• Consider partnering with local community colleges as program hosts in order to accommodate more students and provide students the opportunity to learn about continuing their education
• Develop collaborative relationships that contribute to collaborative community engagement and program support and promotion
• Work with school administrations to develop policy changes regarding how teachers communicate and respond to student mental health needs

Program contact is available to consider on-site presentations regarding replication.

Contact Information