Washburn Center For Children

"There is no training for this." — Jenny Britton, Chief Clinical Officer, Washburn Center for Children When tragedy strikes a school community, the work of healing is slow, nonlinear, and deeply human. CNN's Michelle Krupa recently told that story — following the Annunciation School community and the Washburn Center team that has been with them every step of the way. Our clinicians work inside schools, homes and offices across the Twin Cities because that's where life happens. As Chief Clinical Officer Jenny Britton shares with caregivers: compartmentalization is a survival skill. And eventually, you have to unpack it — and you don't have to do it alone. We're proud of the team whose dedication is reflected in this story, and grateful to CNN for bringing it to a wider audience so that we can do better for kids. 🔗 Full story: https://lnkd.in/gZCSrjC5 #WashburnCenter #MentalHealth #TraumaHealing #ChildrensMentalHealth #TwinCities #CommunityHealing

A year ago, 40% of Minnesota students reported symptoms of depression or anxiety. Today, that number is 30%. That's real progress — and it matters. It is also still a crisis. Children in our community are still struggling. Trauma and stress-related disorders are now the most common diagnoses among the kids Washburn Center serves. Heightened immigration enforcement hit our community at the very moment children's mental health needs were already at historic levels. The impact doesn't stop with one family — it ripples into classrooms, neighborhoods, and the lives of every child who witnesses what's happening around them. Let's hold onto the hope in that 10-point shift: children recover. With the right support, at the right time, a child's story can change. That is not wishful thinking — it is what Washburn Center does every single day. This is A Surge of Hope. M.A. Mortenson Companies has made a lead gift for our spring campaign to help meet this moment. Will you join? Your gift connects a child to a therapist, supports a caregiver who doesn't have to navigate this alone, and helps Washburn Center respond without waiting on slow or uncertain public funding. These kids cannot wait. A Surge of Hope starts here: onecau.se/_g5hcb1 #HopewithWashburnCenter

Today is Children's Mental Health Day. At Washburn Center for Children, we see what that means up close — every single day. Children in our community are carrying real weight. Trauma. Fear. Disruption that no child should have to navigate alone. This is not a distant problem. It's happening in our schools, our neighborhoods, our families. And it calls for a community response. Here's what that looks like: → Listen to a child. Ask how they see themselves in the world — and really hear the answer. → Be the go-to adult. Get trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid so you're ready when a child needs you. → Raise your voice with legislators. State and federal resources for children's mental health are not enough. That has to change. One parent recently shared this about their experience at Washburn: "Having you on our side was paramount to our success and made us feel more confident as parents." This is what community looks like. This is what healing makes possible. On this Children's Mental Health Day — will you be part of the response? #ChildrensMentalHealthDay #MentalHealthMatters #WashburnCenter #YouthMentalHealth #CommunityHealing

May is Mental Health Month. For children in our community, it's also a moment of urgency. Kids today are navigating the biggest mental health crisis of our lifetime — and the weight of trauma doesn't wait for the right moment or the right policy. It shows up in classrooms, in homes, in silence. Community action has never been more critical. At Washburn Center for Children, we believe you can't stop what these kids have lived through — but together, we can change what happens next. This spring, we're proud to launch A Surge of Hope, made possible in part by a lead gift from M.A. Mortenson Companies. Your investment is an act of belief in children who need it now. Join us. 💛 A Surge of Hope starts here: #MentalHealthMonth #ChildrensMentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #CommunityImpact #SurgeOfHope

The word "surge" once meant fear for our communities. Now we're reclaiming it. Right now, trauma and stress-related disorders are the most common diagnoses among children at Washburn Center. This is community trauma. It calls for a community response. Your gift today — alongside a lead gift from M.A. Mortenson Companies — connects a child to care when it matters most. Give now: A Surge of Hope starts here. https://bit.ly/3QWTzRl

This spring, we are rising in a Surge of Hope. The word "surge" once threatened our communities. Now we're reclaiming it. This year has been indescribable for families. Heightened immigration enforcement hit at the very moment children's mental health needs were already at historic levels. At Washburn Center, trauma and stress-related disorders are now the most common diagnoses among the children we serve — and the full impact is just beginning to unfold. Yet hope is rising. Washburn Center was founded after the 1883 mill explosion left children without caregivers. We have always shown up in the hardest moments. We are ready now. This is community trauma. The harm stretches beyond separated families — it lives in the classmate who notices the empty seat, the neighbor kids who feel the silence, teenagers watching raids on their phone. It calls for a community response. Your gift today — alongside a lead gift from M.A. Mortenson Companies — will connect children to trauma-informed care, support caregivers who aren't carrying this alone, and help us respond. For kids whose worlds have been shaken repeatedly, your support is not symbolic. It is an immediate act of hope. Will you join us? A Surge of Hope starts here.

Thanks to WCCO | CBS News Minnesota and Frankie McLister for continuing to keep the story in focus that kids in our community continue to struggle in a historic mental health crisis. Washburn Center was founded in a moment of collective trauma – the 1883 mill explosion that left children without caregivers. Our mission has never been more relevant than it is today, as kids witness lives ripped apart by Operation Metro Surge. We know that mental health support changes outcomes after community trauma. We are here. We are holding hope. https://lnkd.in/gFesfspB

We showed up—and we’re not done. Lifting our voices is essential to keep the door open to mental health care. Alongside staff, partners, and community leaders, we rallied at Mental Health Day on the Hill to share real stories and advocate for what Minnesotans need: protected Medicaid access, strong behavioral health funding, and policies that both safeguard services and address fraud responsibly. Advocacy doesn’t end with one day. This spring, take a moment to contact your legislators. Share why mental health care matters to you and your community. Your voice helps ensure these services remain accessible for everyone who needs them. #MentalHealthMatters

Our communities are in a mental health crisis, and our system is struggling—but change is possible. Mental Health Advocacy Week is underway. Contact your state legislator today to: - Protect access to Medicaid - Preserve services as fraud issues are resolved - Support policy and funding that improve access, availability, and quality of care for all Minnesotans Join us tomorrow for Mental Health Day on the Hill—rally at 11 a.m. in the Minnesota State Capitol rotunda.

There’s never been a better time to get equipped to respond to our community’s mental health needs in the Twin Cities and beyond. Take two simple steps today: 1. Register now for FREE mental health first aid training so you’re ready to recognize when someone may be struggling and know how to respond. https://washburn.org/mhfa/ 2. Contact your members of Congress and urge them to approve critical funding for Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT) grants, which keep these lifesaving trainings free and accessible to adults across our communities. https://lnkd.in/gWmjP3Ye When more people know how to recognize and respond to mental health challenges, we build stronger, more supportive communities for everyone. #MentalHealthAwareness #TwinCities #CommunityCare #MHAT