WHAT WE DO
The Champions of Change program works with a variety of community youth and parent groups to bring teens together to talk about the challenges of mental health and perceived causes of increased youth suicide. The goals of the gathering include:
- Youth connection and discussion about this difficult and stigmatized topic in a safe environment
- Education about mental health symptoms, causes and treatment options
- Youth-driven development of ideas, solutions and activities to combat depression and anxiety, and help reduce teen suicide
- Teen commitment and ownership of a process and program that is positive, serves others and has real-life implications and outcomes
- Data collection and dissemination to share with legislators, school and community leaders and parents to help affect change and ultimately reduce teen suicide
WHAT OUTCOMES DO WE WANT?
- Happy, healthy, balanced, confident, well-adjusted kids
- Decrease in the incidences of teen suicide
- Decrease in teen anxiety and depression
- Acceptance of mental illness as any other illness of the body
- To reduce shame and stigma surrounding mental illness
Overview of Program
WHAT’S THE PROCESS? HOW DO I GET A GROUP STARTED?
It’s easy to get started! If you live in Southern Oregon, you can use the CONTACT FORM to request facilitation of a Champions of Change teen event. Your group will be responsible for promoting the event and gathering teens for attendance, as well as serving snacks and beverages. Our team will provide the logo assets, some swag and giveaways to encourage participation.
CAN I FACILITATE A GROUP ON MY OWN?
You may also choose to facilitate a group by yourself or with other adults. Below is a link to a Champions of Change Starter Sheet that gives you all the information you need to hold a gathering, as well as the logo to use in your promotional vehicles.
View & Download the Starter Sheet
View & Download the Logo
ABOUT CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE
The Champions of Change program started in 2019 as a collaboration between the Grace & Kindness Foundation and The Lemonade Project.
Grace & Kindness was formed in memory of Grace Holt, who lost her life to suicide in 2016. The Foundation has three pillars to its mission – a 5k run, scholarships for youth camps and enrichment programs, and education focusing on teen mental illness and suicide. Around the anniversary of Grace’s death, her mom, Susan Holt, and a board member, Lisa Hutchins, started the Run With Grace 5k which has ignited youth, community and business support. Over the past three years, the event has grown exponentially, as has the financial support, which has been used to fund youth scholarships.
In 2019, Grace & Kindness asked the founder of The Lemonade Project, Andrea Childreth, to partner with its organization to help fulfill the third pillar of its mission – education. Andrea started The Lemonade Project after starting her blog, BipolarLemonade.com, and publishing the book, ON THE EDGE: Help and hope for parenting children with mental illness. Andrea and her family experienced the stigma, shame and crises many families face with the presence of mental illness. Her daughter, Chloe, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at six-years-old until a final diagnosis of a neurological disorder, anxiety and depression were diagnosed at a therapeutic boarding school at the age of 15.
Champions of Change was created by the two organizations with the goal of educating our community and youth about teen mental illness and suicide prevention. The program aims to specifically empower youth to affect change surrounding teen mental illness and suicide through conversation, information and advocacy.
