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County CCRB presents needs assessment showing service reach but rising youth behavioral concerns
Summary
Melinda McElhinney of the Community and Children's Resource Board told the council CCRB funds more than $15 million across 68 programs; programs served an estimated 123,000 youth in 2024, but the needs assessment flagged rising youth self‑injury and suicide‑related indicators.
Melinda McElhinney, executive director of the Community and Children's Resource Board (CCRB) of Saint Charles County, presented the board’s new community needs assessment to the O'Fallon council on June 26.
McElhinney said CCRB invests just over $15,000,000 across 68 programs at 37 agencies and that funded services reached an estimated 123,000 youth in 2024, plus more than 3,000 parents and caregivers and 4,000 professionals. She said more than 80% of youth in the county received at least one CCRB‑funded prevention service last year.
While noting long‑term strengths — lower substantiated child‑abuse rates, declines in substance‑use treatment admissions since 2009, high high‑school graduation rates and falling infant mortality — McElhinney highlighted emerging problems. The assessment found youth self‑injury rose (from about 11% in 2012 to roughly 21.5% in 2022) and youth suicide indicators increased; providers reported higher levels of anxiety, depression and more intense symptoms that prolong time in care and increase staff burden.
McElhinney said CCRB will share the reports with local leaders and convene stakeholders to address those emerging needs while preserving effective prevention services. She invited council members to review the public reports (the CCRB website hosts the executive summary and full data products) and to help spread the assessment to constituents.
