Out-of-school time programs play a central role in supporting a young person’s mental health and are a core component in the mental health system for young people. Youth development staff are the caring adults that help young people heal from trauma, and they are the critical advocates on behalf of youth in distress. One critical way in which out-of-school time programs support a young person’s mental health and wellness is through building protective factors that support a young person’s ability to cope and heal from stressful and traumatic experiences, which can buffer the effects of mental health risk factors. Building protective factors in your programs connects to implementing foundational youth development practices. During module, participants will understand the importance of protective factors and how staff’s practices in program support the mental health and wellness of youth by building protective factors
