Inspired by community concerns around mental health distress among our youth and building on existing efforts of the Transylvania County Youth Support Collaborative workgroups, TC STRONG was formed in late 2021. Our goal was to create a broad coalition of youth, school, and community leaders who would develop and implement a strategic plan to address these concerns in a collaborative and effective way.
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Our Concern
Our Concern
The tragic loss of multiple young members of our community in the fall of 2021 has affected our community profoundly. There are also many indicators of a broad level of mental health distress among our youth.
Local primary care and behavioral health providers report significant increases in mental health related office visits (e.g. anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideation). School administrators report significant increase in behavioral suspensions related to impaired coping skills. Direct reports from students, parents, and faculty also suggest increased levels of anxiety and depression.
Potential underlying factors include COVID-related social disruption, social media influences, decreased (general) social cohesion/increased divisiveness, and impaired family support. Despite many acts of compassion and support, some youth feel that “nothing’s changed” and “we don’t feel heard or supported.”
There is emerging consensus that:
Immediate responses are important, but unlikely to change overall mental health status of youth
Absent significant steps, broad emotional suffering will persist and more tragedies will likely occur
Our schools did not cause these problems and lack capacity and resources to solve them alone
Effective intervention will require the coordinated efforts of youth, schools, and the community
No framework currently exists in Transylvania County to make a broad collaborative effort focused on youth mental health feasible and sustainable
Our Starting Framework
Our Starting Framework
In December 2021, concerned community members began working together to form a broad coalition of youth, school, and community leaders. The goal was to facilitate an aligned and effective community-wide response that both allows and encourages spontaneous responses and develops a strategic framework capable of making evidence-based mental health support programs and resources broadly available to our youth.
Initial efforts included hosting faculty listening sessions at county high schools to gather feedback about concerns and needs, and creating yard signs to provide encouragement and hope to community members.
The initiative was guided by principles of the Collective Impact Model for Transformational Change, including a shared vision and agenda, common measurements , mutually-reinforcing activities, continuous communication, and backbone (admin/program) support.
In December 2021 and January 2022, organizers secured a commitment of support from 3 lead organizations, activated a Steering Team, identified strategic imperatives, and established a data framework. The group that was originally established as the Transylvania County Youth Support Collaborative in 2019 and focused on immediate impact projects during COVID-19, transitioned into "the Network," and began meeting monthly via Zoom and in-person.
Our Lead Organizations
Our Lead Organizations
The initial TC STRONG Leadership Team consisted of representatives from 3 lead organizations that provide committed leadership to the group's work.
Erin Drew, Executive Director
Missy Ellenberger, Director of Student Services
Elaine Russell, Health Director
Rik Emaus, TC STRONG Coordinator
Our Steering Team
Our Steering Team
Formed in January 2022, TC STRONG's Steering Team included representatives from mental health clinicians and therapists, county middle and high schools, non-profits and faith-based organizations, public health, local government, parents, and high school students. This team worked to advise, support, and coordinate the efforts of cross-functional workgroups.
Youth representatives from this group chose the TC STRONG name, selected the color scheme, and helped design the logo.
Leah Bush, Community Delegate, The Family Place - Rosman
Ashley Dickson, Faculty Delegate, Brevard Middle School
Erin Drew, Lead Organization Representative, The Family Place
Ted Duncan, Principal Delegate, Brevard Academy
Missy Ellenberger, Lead Organization Representative, Transylvania County Schools
Rik Emaus, Lead Organization Representative, TC STRONG
Denise Gonzalez, Community Delegate, The Family Place
Barbara Grimm, Principal Delegate, Davidson River School
Sarah Hankey, Wellness Delegate, Blue Zones Project Brevard
Adria Hardy, Faculty Delegate, Brevard High School
Jen Heatherly, Communications Team, Transylvania County Schools
Adonai Jacques, Student Delegate, Homeschool
Carrie Koppin, Homeschool Delegate
Phil Latter, School-Based Therapy Delegate, Meridian/Blue Ridge Health
Cora McCall, Student Delegate, Brevard High School
Johnathan Meeks, Student Delegate, Rosman High School
Shanaia Powell, Social Worker Delegate, Rosman Middle/High School
Elaine Russell, Lead Organization Representative, Transylvania Public Health
Tara Rybka, Communications Team, Transylvania Public Health
Stacey Seefeldt, Counselor Delegate, Brevard Academy
Sarah Shawver, Counselor Delegate, Rosman High School
Elijah Simon, Student Delegate, Brevard High School
Scott Strickler, Principal Delegate, Brevard High School
Greg Stroup, Law Enforcement Delegate, Transylvania County Sheriff's Office / School Resource Officers
Becca Swanger, Mental Health Services Delegate, Meridian/Blue Ridge Health
Amanda Vanderoef, Government Delegate, Transylvania County Department of Social Services
Trinity Wilbanks, Student Delegate, Rosman High School
Elizabeth Williams, Clinical Therapist Delegate, Hendersonville Pediatrics
Julie Workman, Parent Delegate, Brevard High School PTSO
Our Initial Work
Our Initial Work
In January-May 2022, the TC STRONG Steering Team practiced collaboration and developed tools and processes that would guide the group. monthly meetings also included brief trainings for its delegates on the collective impact model, collaborating and working together across organizations, and measuring the impact of programs.
Early on, Steering Team members identified strategic areas of focus aimed to advance our near-term vision that every youth in Transylvania County feels heard and supported, as well as our long-term vision that every youth in Transylvania County feels confident and secure in connection, purpose, and hope:
Community Awareness, Education, and De-stigmatization
Empowerment & Connection
Access to Support & Care
With support from the Network and other community volunteers, work began on selected projects connected to each of these focus areas, including:
Raising awareness of mental health-related topics,
Providing skills training to enhance mental and emotional wellbeing and address mental health concerns,
Strengthening student connections with caring adults, and
Easing referrals for mental and behavioral health treatment.
Next steps, starting in June 2022, included efforts to assess outcomes and impact, hardwire successful approaches, determine ways to continue and/or expand successful projects, build long-term resources and support, and develop and communicate a sustainable long-term wellness plan.
By mid 2022, TC STRONG had received donations to support programming and part-time administrative program staff, along with generous in-kind support from community agencies and organizations.
In early 2023, we secured our first grant from Dogwood Health Trust, which enabled us to hire a full-time staff member, TC STRONG Director Beth Ford, as well as part-time administrative and program staff, Nicole Essenberg.
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