Needs Statement

Since the pandemic, we have experienced a rise in trauma-related issues that have specifically impacted our youth. The cumulative effect of these trauma-inducing stressors, such as youth in the juvenile system and those suffering from the impact of adverse childhood experiences, have shown to have a profound impact on physical and mental health outcomes later in life.

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A report published by Jill Mead of the National Library of Medicine in 2021 titled Mental Health Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children and Adolescents, “Research on the mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents confirms the presence of significant anxiety and depression, as well as increases in these symptoms compared with pre-pandemic levels.” The same article also notes how “additional racial-based stressors occurred in the United States” during this time, adding to the rise in impacted youth (Mead, 2021). Furthermore, there has been a lack of resources provided to the youth in juvenile detention centers. According to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, youth have expressed needing more “food, learning opportunities, mental health treatment and supplies”. CHIC’s goal is to help address some of these growing concerns among our youth.