When School Starts, Youth May Need Support More Than Ever
Returning to school is an exciting time for every young person. New classrooms, changing routines, academic expectations, and new social opportunities can bring excitement, but they can also make existing challenges worse.
School may be the first place where an adult notices that something is not going well. A student may seem unusually withdrawn, anxious, tired, distracted, or frustrated. They may have difficulty regulating emotions or behavior, struggle to connect with peers, or share concerns about what’s happening at home. In other cases, youth may be experiencing abuse or neglect that becomes more apparent once they are regularly interacting with educators, coaches, and other school employees.
Research demonstrates that during the first few weeks of returning to school, reports of child abuse and neglect increase, highlighting the important role educators and other school employees play in identifying issues and helping connect youth with the support they need.
Despite behavioral health or family challenges, not every youth needs to enter the child welfare system. Many are navigating trauma, family conflict, grief, anxiety, depression, substance use, or other challenges that can impact their well-being and relationships at home and at school. When families have access to the right services early, they may be better able to address these problems and remain safely together.
We work with youth and families to understand what may be behind a challenging behavior, identify strengths and needs, and connect them with practical, individualized support. The goal is to address concerns before they escalate, strengthen family relationships, and help keep youth safe and successful in their homes.
Connection Can Make a Difference
Schools are an important part of a youth’s support system. Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified supportive schools as important protective factors for youth mental health and well-being. Some ways this occurs include:
Providing stability and predictability that can create a sense of safety when other areas of a youth’s life feel uncertain
Building meaningful relationships with trusted adults who can offer guidance, encouragement, and mentoring
·Strengthening a sense of belonging that can reduce isolation and build resilience
Supporting coping, emotional regulation, and problem-solving when concerns or challenges arise
Creating opportunities for confidence and accomplishment through learning, activities, and personal growth
Connecting youth and families to resources and services that can provide the help they need
Encouraging healthy peer relationships that promote connection and mutual support
·Supporting a positive outlook for the future by helping youth develop goals, hope, and a sense of possibility
This connection can look different for every student.
For one youth, it may be a teacher who notices a change in behavior, takes time to check in, and helps them process concerns that may be affecting them outside of school. For another, it may be a school counselor who provides support as they work through anxiety or grief. Families may also need help accessing behavioral health services, and a caring school employee can help connect them with appropriate resources. When immediate safety concerns arise, school employees may also become foster parents for youth or sibling groups, providing stability and nurturing care while their families address challenges.
Support for Youth and Families
At NYAP, we recognize that youth and families come to us with different experiences, strengths, and needs. Our programs are designed to meet them where they are and provide support that is responsive to their circumstances.
Rather than focusing only on a youth’s behavior, we work to understand what may be contributing to it and identify practical ways to support youth and the adults who care for them. This can include linking families with community resources, providing behavioral health services, strengthening family relationships, and helping youth develop skills to overcome challenges.
Our goal is to go beyond managing crises. It’s to help youth and families access meaningful services as early as possible and to strengthen the relationships and resources that can help them move forward together with confidence and resilience.
You Can Be Part of a Youth’s Support System
A caring teacher, coach, or mentor can provide something every youth needs: a sense that someone notices them, takes the time to listen to them, genuinely cares about their well-being, and is knowledgeable about the ways schools can support youth and families beyond their traditional educational role.
At NYAP, we believe care should be individualized and that every youth deserves to be treated with dignity, understanding, and respect. Whether they are navigating behavioral health challenges, family conflict, or involvement with the child welfare system, our innovative services provide the confidence and stability youth and families need to move forward.