CHADS Coalition for Mental Health

Program Overview

The CHADS Coalition for Mental Health program provides trauma-informed mental health and social-emotional support services to St. Louis City youth ages 11–18 attending CHADS partner schools. Through school-based counseling, mentoring, suicide prevention services, and social-emotional learning (SEL) programming, CHADS supports youth experiencing depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, behavioral challenges, trauma exposure, and emotional distress.

The CHADS Family Support (FS) program provides counseling services through licensed clinicians trained in evidence-based interventions, including Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (B-CBT), and the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS). Counseling services are designed to stabilize suicidal, depressed, and anxious youth while improving emotional regulation, coping skills, and overall well-being. Participants typically engage in 12–15 weekly sessions lasting approximately 30–90 minutes each.

The CHADS Social Emotional Wellness (SEW) program provides individual and group mentoring. Youth participate in activities focused on CASEL competencies, including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. SEL Coaches also provide classroom support, intervention services, teacher consultation, professional development, check-in/check-out services, and whole-classroom lessons using the Second Step curriculum.

CHADS accepts referrals from school counselors, teachers, families, community organizations, and self-referrals through its warmline. The program uses structured intake assessments, behavioral observations, biopsychosocial screenings, and standardized mental health assessments to determine service needs and individualized support plans.

The program is funded by Prop S for 2026.

The program is operated by CHADS Coalition for Mental Health.

Program Eligibility

Services provided by CHADS Coalition for Mental Health are available to the following individuals:

• Youth ages 11–18 who reside in the City of St. Louis
• Youth attending a CHADS St. Louis City partner school
• Youth experiencing depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, emotional distress, or behavioral challenges
• Youth exposed to trauma, violence, grief, or unsafe environments
• Youth in need of social-emotional learning support, mentoring, or school-based counseling services
• Youth referred by schools, counselors, teachers, community organizations, caregivers, or through self-referral
• Youth requiring early intervention, suicide prevention support, or emotional stabilization services

Individuals requiring intensive psychiatric, inpatient, or emergency crisis services beyond the scope of CHADS’ programming may be referred to outside providers for higher levels of care.

Program Contact Information

For more information about the program, please contact CHADS Coalition for Mental Health at 314-952-2046 or info@chadscoalition.org