Real Talk: Health, Life & Everything In Between

Mar 31
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How the Becoming Program Helps Young Parents

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by Abby, Junior Board Member

The myHealth Becoming Program is named for its focus on supporting parents as they become the individuals they aspire to be. The program helps women gain the confidence to achieve their goals with the education and resources they need to pursue their dreams and be the parents they wish to be.

Pregnancy can oftentimes feel overwhelming, especially without having the tools and support you need. MyHealths’ Becoming Program supports young mothers to feel prepared and ready for the next steps in their life. The Becoming Program is free to pregnant or parenting individuals 12-26 who live in Carver, Scott, or Western Hennepin County. Through the program, mothers are offered one-on-one nurse home visits where they are guided through childhood development and provided with unique support to meet their needs.

Jen, the program’s nurse, says that no two visits are the same. She first offers time for the clients to describe any issues or concerns that they may want to address in the meeting. If the clients don’t have anything specific to discuss, Jen will cover topics corresponding to where the client is in their pregnancy or parenting journey. This could include checking in on any appointments scheduled or attended, completing a child development questionnaire, doing a home safety check, working on wellness goals, celebrating life successes, and troubleshooting challenges. In Jen’s words, the program is “a fun way to help parents acquire tools for their parenting tool belt.” With every home visit another tool is being added or honed.

The program also offers a monthly wellness group where women can connect with their peers and discuss the shared experiences of pregnancy and parenting while being supported by staff.

Jen says, “A lot of moms have shared that they feel judged as a young mom. They learn very quickly that they will not be judged when they meet with me or any of our staff. We are always so proud of young people for showing up and taking care of themselves and their health!”

All women within the program join with unique experiences. The biggest challenges that women face as they enter into the program are transportation, financial strain, and a lack of social support. Jen provides tailored support to each woman in the program offering insurance navigation, emotional support, and childcare supplies. Women in the program can receive free diapers, children books, journals, toys, cookbooks, water bottles, yoga mats, and other wellness-related items.

Jen comments on the dedication and resilience of the women she works with. She shares, “There are too many success stories to choose from—our Becoming moms are just awesome! We have had moms get their high school diploma or GED while pregnant or parenting young children, repair strained relationships with food and eating, work daily to nurture their mental and physical health in so many ways, and model healthy habits for their kiddos. This all takes an extreme amount of work and dedication.”

By the time mothers age out of the program, they have made incredible strides in growth and self-discovery through dedication and resilience. As Jen shares, “I think they realize they really are becoming the moms they want to be and want to keep growing into that beyond our program.”

Feb 03
0

Become a myHealth Mission Maker

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Every day at myHealth for Teens & Young Adults, we witness the transformative power of accessible care. Over 300 young people visit us each month, many of whom are uninsured or underinsured. We take pride in our promise: we never turn anyone away for an inability to pay. Our mission is simple yet vital—to ensure every teen and young adult has access to the medical and mental health care they need. And we can’t do it alone.

That’s where you come in. We’re inviting you to join our Mission Makers Club, a community of monthly supporters who make it possible for us to meet immediate needs and plan for the future with confidence. Monthly donations provide the steady, reliable funding that keeps our doors open and our services thriving.

Here’s how your monthly gift makes a difference:

  • Stocking our dispensary: Ensuring essential medications are always available for our patients.
  • Providing critical supplies: Keeping vaccines and test kits on hand so no one has to wait for care.
  • Support for Mental Health: keeping our per session fee affordable
  • Covering operational costs: Supporting the behind-the-scenes work that makes our services possible.

Our monthly donors are at the heart of everything we do. Christopher & Britta O., members of the Mission Makers Club, shared why they give: “We see our monthly giving as our base commitment to myHealth…a set-it-and-forget-it contribution that helps us plan our budget as much as it helps myHealth plan its.” And Asya L. says, “donating to MyHealth gives me the opportunity to give back to my community in an easy way and utilizing my employer’s donation match helps the funds go even further.”

Whether you choose to give $20, $50, or $100 a month, your support directly impacts the lives of the young people who rely on us. As a Mission Maker, you’ll receive regular updates showing exactly how your generosity is transforming lives and strengthening our community.

Ready to make a lasting impact? Joining is easy! Visit our donation page and select your monthly giving amount. Your support ensures that every young person in our community has the opportunity to thrive.

Thank you for considering this meaningful way to give. Together, we’re creating a future where no young person is left behind.

Dec 02
0

5 Ways to Reduce Stigma Around Mental Health

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Guest written by Youth Advisory Board (YAB) member

Though 50 million Americans struggle with mental illness each year, stigma surrounding mental health remains persistent. While stigma continues to be a large issue regarding people reaching out for help, there are ways to reduce stigma around mental health for yourself and others. Stigma should not be an obstacle to people reaching out for support. Here are five ways to reduce stigma around mental health.

Educate Yourself and Others

The best way to reduce stigma is to educate yourself. Stigma is caused by a lack of information and is exacerbated by stereotypes, false assumptions, and misinformation. By taking time to learn more about the subject, stigma can be reduced.

Openly Talk about Mental Health Experiences

By openly talking about personal mental health experiences, people can view the subject as less ‘taboo’ and more as the common experiences that they are! If you are open to sharing your experience, discussing personal experiences with mental health can help others few it as a common issue in society and can be motivated to talk about their own experiences as well.

Participate in Support Groups, Panels, and Discussions

The best way to get information about mental health is to participate in support groups, panels, and discussions. By talking through specific experiences and learning from others, stigma in mental health can be reduced through the acknowledgment and acceptance of others.

Seek Treatment

Due to the stigma surrounding mental health, many try to ignore their struggles and put them aside. As a result, many do not seek treatment or support. However, stigma can be prevented by getting treatment early on and reaching out for support. Through support, people can help realize that getting resources for mental health is common and effective and should not be stigmatized.

Speak against Stigma

Speaking out against stigma revolving around mental health is the best way to reduce stigma. This can be through speaking at events/schools, informing those around you about the subject, and correcting misconceptions when you hear them. Additionally, through advocating for more mental health education and resources in schools, stigma can be reduced early on.

Everyone experiences mental health struggles at some point in their life. By recognizing the universal nature of these struggles, all of us can take steps like those listed here to reduce the stigma against seeking mental health support for the good of all.

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