Clinical social worker urges council to fund youth crisis center and expand affirming services

A licensed clinical social worker testified at the Springfield City Council Committee July 8 that the city is in a youth mental-health emergency and urged immediate investment in alternatives to emergency departments for children in crisis.

"We are living in the middle of a mental health emergency," Kelly Brooks told the committee, describing children with severe trauma, suicidal ideation and limited local psychiatric-bed capacity. Brooks said some Springfield youth are hospitalized hours away because local hospitals lack capacity and that LGBTQ+ youth face heightened risk due to harassment and national rhetoric.

Brooks urged the council to fund a youth-focused crisis center as an alternative to emergency rooms, expand access to LGBTQ+ affirming therapy and support school-based mental-health and trauma-informed programs. "When you take a public stand for mental health, for trauma care, for queer youth, you're telling them that their lives matter here," Brooks said.

Council members did not take immediate funding action during the meeting; the item was presented as public comment with requests for the council to consider budgetary support and program partnerships with local providers. Brooks provided program suggestions including peer support groups and partnerships with local LGBTQ+ organizations.

Officials did not record a staff pledge or formal vote in response to the public comment during the meeting.