Improving the Mental Health of Jersey City Youth
100 kidsinc is a grassroots organization seeking to provide Jersey City youth, 26 and younger, with community emotional support by delivering workshops/seminars, and organizing physical/virtual support groups.
100kidsinc emotional support services include:
- Case Management
- Mental Health and Substance-Abuse Services
- Individual Counseling
- Group Counseling
- Nonclinical / Clinical Support Groups
- Prevention Education
HealthierJC + 100kidsinc
For 100kidsinc, building a Culture of Health means bridging the mental health gap within urban communities of color. It believes this is possible through offering community-based mental and emotional support services that are accessible 365 days a year. 
In awarding the mini-grant, HealthierJC acknowledged the valuable contributions of 100kidsinc working one-on-one with Jersey City youth delivering compassionate mental health services. In the wake of the pandemic, mental health services are more vital than ever in advancing a Culture of Health for families in all Jersey City neighborhoods.
Results
Thanks to the HealthierJC mini-grant, 100kidsinc hosted its Summer of Emotional Support Program in 2023.
The program provided mental health education and awareness by engaging young people in in a summer theatrical production and conducting psychoeducational therapy sessions for adults. 100kidsinc also offered workshops on the following topics:
- Suicide Prevention Training | Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR)
- Health Communications
- A Man’s Moment
- Rock da Mic
- Express Yourself through Theater I & II
- Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relations
All workshops were held at 498 Ocean Ave., Jersey City, NJ, 07305 every Saturday from 12-2pm. from July 15th until August 26th.
100kidsinc partnered with the following local/regional organizations to encourage family participation in mental health education without stigma: JCTA, 201SPORTS, Mysterious Ways, It Takes A Village Preschool, Hunger Free Unity in the Community (UIC), and Alliance Community Healthcare.
100kidsinc hosted more than 300 families and served 377 young minority, low-income Jersey City residents in Wards A, B, and F.
Moving forward…
Following these summer 2023 programs, Jersey City youth and parents were eager to expand their participation and enroll more family members, friends, and community members. They appreciated having access to clinical and nonclinical services in a secure environment that respects the privacy of group members.
To meet increased community demand, 100kidsinc plans to continue offering youth and adult mental health education, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) opportunities, venues for community engagement, and support for mental health certifications.
“It takes a village to build an empire, and we are all parts of the same village” – Christine Bell, 100kidsinc Project Coordinator
For more information, visit https://100kidsinc.org/