MINNEAPOLIS (May 11, 2021) — Due to the ongoing pandemic, unrest and the increasing need for mental health resources for youth, Allina Health's teen mental well-being program, Change to Chill™ (CTC) has selected a record number 23 schools throughout Minnesota and Western Wisconsin to implement the Change to Chill School Partnership during the 2021-2022 school year. For the first time, the partnership was extended beyond high schools and middle schools to include virtual schools and alternative learning centers.
The Partnership includes Change to Chill trainings for school staff, tailored communications for parent engagement, funding for a “Chill Zone”, and a summer internship opportunity for two students at each school.
First launched during the 2018-2019 school year, the CTC School Partnership provides selected schools with yearlong support from Allina Health, centered around student leadership, stress management and mental health training sessions for school staff, outreach and engagement with guardians and a $1000 grant to put toward creating a “Chill Zone” – a space created by student interns to de-stress and relax before returning to class.
This year, the focus of school partnership will be to continue meeting the unique needs of schools in their responses to the pandemic. Change to Chill staff are working with students to create new, tailored content, and utilizing its online platform to support distance learning through videos, worksheets, audio meditations and more. Students and teachers also receive support to incorporate different stress management elements into classroom and virtual learning.
“We know when teens have the resources and support to stress less, they are more resilient and able to live fuller and happier lives," said Susan Nygaard, manager of Allina Health's Community Health Improvement. "Change to Chill works as a preventive measure to equip teens with tools and resources to better manage stress and anxiety."
During the 2021-2022 school year, the Change to Chill School Partnership is expanding to include 23 new area schools. The schools selected for the 2021-2022 CTC School Partnership are:
Andover High School – Andover, MN
Lebanon Education Center – Apple Valley, MN
Valley Middle School – STEM – Apple Valley, MN
Mounds View High School – Arden Hills, MN
Dassel Cokato High School – Cokato, MN
Dassel Cokato Middle School – Cokato, MN
Columbia Heights High School – Columbia Heights, MN
Compass Programs – Coon Rapids, MN and Anoka, MN
Black Hawk Middle School – Eagan, MN
Farmington High School – Farmington, MN
St. Croix Central Middle School – Hammond, WI
Kenwood Trail Middle School – Lakeville, MN
Minnesota Center for Advanced Professional Studies (MNCAPS) – Lakeville, MN
Medford High School – Medford, MN
Irondale High School – New Brighton, MN
New Ulm Middle School – New Ulm, MN
Northfield Middle School – Northfield, MN
Owatonna Middle School – Owatonna, MN
Dakota County Area Learning School – Rosemount, MN
Murray Middle School – St. Paul, MN
Johnson High School – St. Paul, MN
Como Park Senior High School – St. Paul, MN
Minnesota Transitions Charter School – virtual
Change to Chill resources are free, easy to use, and include ready-to-use lessons, activities, videos and digital materials. Schools and communities interested in a virtual training for their staff can submit a request form or email changetochill@allina.com.
Allina Health is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of illness and enhancing the greater health of individuals, families and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A not-for-profit health care system, Allina Health cares for patients from beginning to end-of-life through its 90+ clinics, 10 hospitals / 13 campuses, 15 retail pharmacies, and many specialty care centers and specialty medical services, home care, and emergency medical transportation services.