Comprehensive Needs Assessment
September 2024
In September 2023, INK! was awarded funding by the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations and Florida Department of Education to support the development of resiliency skills in St. Johns County public school students and help address rising concerns around youth mental health and well-being. Under the Resiliency Through the Community program, INK! collaborated with the St. Johns County School District and community partners to infuse resiliency resources in schools and to coordinate and fund locally driven initiatives focused on resiliency and character education. To better understand the mental health and resiliency needs of our community and our youth, INK! and our partners at the St. Johns County Behavioral Health Consortium launched a needs assessment to collect comprehensive data from across the county.
We are extremely grateful to everyone who shared their voice in surveys, interviews, and focus groups, helping to identify and prioritize the needs of the St. Johns County community. We are especially proud of and thankful for the young people who submitted surveys and participated in focus groups to ensure that this St. Johns County Comprehensive Needs Assessment included the voice and perspective of our youth. To our friends at the St. Johns County Behavioral Health Consortium and the Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida, we extend our deepest gratitude for your guidance, support, and participation through many months of data collection, discussions, and report preparation. We look forward to moving toward a heathier St. Johns County together.