We are writing a book about at risk youth in the U.S and are looking for academic level collaborators. KARA is a non-profit led by advocates with experience working with at risk youth, we know what is wrong, we know how to fix it and the book will let us demonstrate to a path to better answers.

The book is a method of creating individual and institutional change. It will be used to speak to legislators, administrators and others working with youth, with the ultimate goal to change minds and change policy in the right direction. We want to positively interrupt generational child abuse which is costing 10x more money than we are currently spending on it.

These are two of KARA’s primary areas of interest for at risk children;

1. Mental health conditions of and services for at risk youth

2. Data from health care and child protection systems

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2019 suicide was the second leading cause of death among children and adolescents ages 13 to 19 — and the leading cause of death among 13-year-olds. How many of them had been State Ward children?

Hospitals see many instances of child self-harm but information about it is almost impossible to find.

Post COVID, it appears that hospitals are suffering staff shortages and overloaded psych visits by children that have been locked in toxic homes without access to mandated reporters.

Significant staff shortages in many areas of healthcare and an exodus of their deep knowledge talent. The stress is terrific and those that are able to retire are leaving the field – this is a growing concern.

The following are some of the preliminary questions we have for data gathering for the book, but are open to others:

1. What is it like for children with mental health issues in rural America?  In urban America? What are the numbers?

2. For each successful very young child suicide, at least 150 to 200 children fail.  What populations did these children come from (foster care, LGBTQ, homeless, minority...)?

3. How many were or had been State Ward Children? There is almost no information about self-harm and failed suicides by children under 13.

This information should be available through the healthcare system and State and County child protection services data.

4. What are underlying causes and long term effects of attempted suicide on very young children?

5. What happens to these 150 to 200 children as they age?

The fiscal impact of underserving state ward children is exponentially more expensive than any amount of money we are currently spending, such as time in prison, jail, damage to society.

6. Is there meaningful tracking/information out of child protection systems about success or failure over time of the 1/3 of State Ward youth required to take psychotropic medications?

7. What other tracking information exists for State Ward Children (from early childhood, elementary and high school) such as reading at grade level, absenteeism, expulsions, behavior issues and involvement in the juvenile justice system? Looking backwards, most felons (90% recidivism at 9 years) came from dysfunctional families and foster care.

KARA wants to know how psychotropic medications are being used on all children and specific breakdowns of certain populations such as homeless, LGBTQ, adopted/fostered, immigrants and children in child protection systems.

8. What can be discovered about the ending of mental health services in rural hospitals and group homes, and why are they closing or ending mental health services, and how many have closed or ended those services?

9. What happens to children when there are no services?

Shortage of emergency psych beds and suicide aid.

Child and youth group home closings and fines (for regulatory failures).

Deliverables for this project will become part of a book and social media for KARA, an organization advocating for these at risk youth. Write ups, reports and discussions with the executive director during set milestone meetings throughout the project.

We will work closely with the students to make sure that they are not only learning about this societal problem but that they are able to complete the project ask to gather data. Whenever you want to talk to me, I am here, I am the executive director. We can organize regular Zoom meetings, and I can host discussions to clarify, teach or answer your questions. I can provide mentorship for those interested in this subject area specifically.