University of Minnesota Extension outlines ARPA-funded youth mental-health programs in Pine County

Mary Jo Katras, program leader for family health and well-being at University of Minnesota Extension, told the Pine County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 11 that Extension used American Rescue Plan Act funding from the county to deliver a multi‑year set of mental‑health and resilience activities for youth, parents and caregivers.

The programs, Katras said, combined school‑based trainings, community gatherings and resources to build local capacity and connect families to supports.

Katras said the work grew from conversations with Pine County Health and Human Services staff about rising youth mental‑health needs and cited Minnesota Student Survey results showing elevated rates of mental‑health treatment among students. She described Extension’s approach as “community‑first,” emphasizing relationship building and training that includes parents, caregivers, elders, schools and local partners so tools and language are shared across settings.

Brianna, an Extension presenter who led many local activities, described events paid for with county ARPA funds. Those activities included community paint‑along and blanket‑making events at Mashakwita community center in Hinkley; a keynote and trainings in Pine City schools; Indigenous‑focused workshops and Indigenous Peoples Day visits to four Pine County schools in a single day; and partnerships with the Native American Student Advisory (NASA) group in Hinkley. She said Extension helped Vision School create trauma‑supportive classroom spaces — including sensory items, calming rooms and physical equipment for self‑regulation — and provided family education tied to those tools.

Brianna said the funding also supported a documentary screening and community discussion series (the Wisdom of Trauma screening) and purchases for Empower Recovery Services, including recovery literature and coins used in peer recovery meetings. She described outcomes beyond individual events: staff trained to facilitate workshops locally, strengthened partnerships among local agencies, and donated educational materials and indigenous history books to the four county schools.

Commissioner Ludwig asked how many youth participated in the Minnesota Student Survey cited in the presentation. Katras said the survey is statewide, that schools opt in, and that she would follow up with county‑level counts and the statewide total. Commissioner Nelson asked whether Extension’s agricultural mental‑health outreach was part of the work; Katras confirmed a cross‑department partnership with agricultural educators on farming‑community mental‑health programming.

Katras and Brianna repeatedly thanked Pine County for making the ARPA funding available and said Extension will continue local work beyond the grant: “we are still here,” Katras said, noting Extension’s ongoing presence in all 87 Minnesota counties.

The board did not take formal action on the presentation; commissioners asked questions and thanked presenters.

Looking ahead, Katras said Extension will deliver additional drop‑ins and planned book and resource donations to the county schools and encouraged continued local funding for sustained community healing and education.