Welcome to KidsChange by J.Scott Beaty Executive Director of MN Youth Intervention Programs Association

I’m often asked, “What is KidsChange?” KidsChange is a central hub of information and resources of over 70 early youth intervention programs throughout the State of Minnesota. We offer families in crisis, law enforcement, youth service professionals and kids a simple way to find information and services that are most appropriate for their situation through the resources at our website, www.kidschange.org. With this blog, we intend to bring the experience and expertise of youth service professionals right to your door, as they share their insight, research, best practices and thoughts about working with and parenting youth.

A goal of the KidsChange initiative is to provide clarity about what youth intervention is and what intervention programs are all about. In addition to our nationally and internationally known experts in the youth field, guest bloggers will include youth service providers, parents, law enforcement, and youth.

What is Youth Intervention? The field of early intervention represents a variety of programs that give youth better decision making skills and help keep them from going down the wrong path in life. Services such as: mentoring, counseling, conflict resolution, anger management, diversion, and education are all forms of early intervention. Although the strategies may be diverse, they all share the ultimate goal of reaching kids when they are just showing signs of troublesome behaviors, keep them in school, living with a supportive family and out of the costly juvenile justice system.

Currently, over 85 YIPA member organizations from across the state of Minnesota serve over 50,000 at-risk youth per year. These KidsChange agencies work with youth ages 6-18 precisely when they are beginning to engage in problematic behaviors (e.g. truancy, petty crimes, alcohol/drug use, etc.). Instead of simply being punished for their actions, youth benefit from early intervention programs by receiving the help and resources they need to make positive life choices leading to a brighter future.