Our We Hear YOUth needs assessment informs our prevention, restorative, and mental health programming – allowing us to capture risk and protective factors, mental health needs, engagement styles, and cultural fluidity that exists across the unique school sites we serve. Living Is For Everyone (L.I.F.E.) Advisories, diverse groups of student leaders, help us normalize mental health needs, reduce stigma around mental health conversations, and avoid one-size-fits-all programming across school sites in California.
Mending Matters is a student-driven organization, meaning all of our decisions and work are informed by the youth we serve.
Services We Offer
L.I.F.E Advisory
L.I.F.E. (Living Is For Everyone) Advisories are groups of diverse student leaders that inform all Mending Matters programs and services. L.I.F.E. Advisors help therapists update a school-wide mental health needs assessment, making sure the survey asks the right questions and gives students options that reflect their unique experiences. L.I.F.E. Advisors then help Mending Matters identify how to best respond to the unique needs of students at their school. L.I.F.E. Advisory helps us avoid one-size-fits-all mental health programs by uncovering school-site-specific needs across time and creating culturally responsive mental health supports to meet those needs. L.I.F.E. Advisors use existing school platforms (i.e. social media pages, websites, mental health events) to share resources that reflect their unique community’s identity, strengths, and engagement styles. L.I.F.E. Advisors are trained in responsive leadership practices, resource mapping/development, and mental health and career pathways to support their peers with life’s ups and downs.
We Hear YOUth Needs Assessment
We Hear YOUth is an anonymous, school-wide needs assessment that provides students an opportunity to feel seen and heard in their community, while normalizing conversations about mental health. The survey’s questions and response options were created in partnership with the students we serve to make sure we ask the right questions and offer validating response options. After L.I.F.E. Advisors receive student responses, they work on a response report and peer support video that is shared out with their school community (i.e. students, parents/guardians, school staff).
Don’t Just Take It From Us
“ Mending Matters has been a life savior and given me more hope into my last year at high school than any other school years.
– Youth Advisor
“ One highlight was getting to know everyone and the different backgrounds they come from, it’s so diverse.
– Youth Advisor
“ I liked when we were putting together the school survey I was able to use my experiences at the school to make the questions valid and specific to this school’s needs.
– Youth Advisor
Want to Bring Restorative Services to Your School or Community?
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