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What's Your Vibe?

As we continue to navigate the challenges of a post-pandemic world marked by escalating challenges to the mental health and emotional wellbeing of youth, the need for innovative and transformative solutions has never been more urgent. Global Sustainability Partnerships (GSP) has risen to this challenge by pioneering the VIBE CHECKUP (VCU) program, an exciting interactive program that ties into a cutting-edge mobile app that helps youth in grades 6th – 12th navigate how they’re feeling.

It takes a village to foster understanding, compassion, and support for those facing mental health challenges. By checking in with friends and family, we can unite to share resources and provide education to those who need it most. Join us in cultivating a community where mental health is prioritized and valued, and where a collective effort can lead to profound change by checking out VIBE CHECKUP.

Getting Ready for Life's Changes

Navigating your teenage years can be tricky, and sometimes you may need a little help. Our VCU course and app are here to lend a hand.

We get it—as Middle and High schoolers sometimes, talking about how you feel can be tough. It might even seem like you’re the only one going through certain stuff, which can make you feel pretty isolated. But here’s the scoop: you’re never alone in this journey. VIBE CHECKUP has your back and can help you through it when life throws you a curve ball!

Introducing the VCU Youth Mental Health App:

This app is not just cool; it’s like having a wise friend in your pocket, always ready to help you out. it’s going to change the game in how we support our youth, how youth support their peers, how teens manage their mental health and navigate and thrive in the home, school, digital landscape.

Our Youth/Teens: Face unprecedented challenges with depression, anxiety, aggression, bullying, cyberbullying, suicide and substance abuse and school shootings, the need for intervention is urgent.

Mental Health Check In!

Feeling bad one day? It’s normal – everyone has bad days!

Feeling bad for a week? Depending on what’s going on – you can handle it.

Feeling bad for over a week? Time to talk to your Village/trusted adult

Remember – Your Worst day is only 24 hours!

Consider Building Your Own Affirmations Wall

Incorporating positive affirmations into daily routines can transform your outlook, enhance emotional well-being, and lead to better life outcomes by instilling a deep sense of belief in your abilities and potential.

Global Sustainable Partnerships (GSP) & VIBE CHECKUP:
Empowering Lives, Building Resilience

Global Sustainable Partnerships (GSP) is a visionary 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to fostering sustainable and impactful change across communities worldwide. Founded in 2010, our mission is to transcend borders and timelines, committed to enriching the lives of children and their families through the provision of clean and safe drinking water and empowering women by creating economic opportunities to break the cycle of poverty in developing countries.

In 2020, as the world grappled with the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, GSP adapted its focus towards addressing more immediate needs within our own communities. Embracing our ‘It Takes A Village’ philosophy, we are now also fiercely dedicated to addressing the wide range of inequities close to home, with a special emphasis on improving mental health and wellness for underrepresented children and their families in Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, and Michigan.

Our goal is bold yet simple: to unlock the inherent resilience within our children, enabling them to thrive, overcome, and achieve optimal mental health and wellness. We envision a future where every child can realize their highest potential, contributing to a more equitable, thriving society. At GSP, we believe in the power of partnership, resilience, and the spirit of community to create a lasting impact, ensuring that no child is left behind.

Organization Fun Fact!

GSP was born in the Serengeti after gazing in the eyes of a baby giraffe and witnessed Masai children on their way to fetch water in the middle seeing of “lions and tigers and bears” Oh my!

The VCU Program: A Holistic Approach

It Takes a Village:
At the heart of GSP’s mission is the groundbreaking VIBE CHECKUP (VCU) program, a dynamic initiative designed to weave a comprehensive network of support and understanding around our youth. Encompassing grades 6-12, VCU is not merely a program but a movement, embodying the ethos of “It Takes A Village” by actively involving parents, teachers, school staff, and the wider community in a united effort to foster a stronger sense of connectedness and belonging. This holistic approach is underpinned by a recognition that true mental health support extends beyond the individual, requiring a concerted and collective effort to effect meaningful change.

The Philosophy of “It Takes A Village”
At the core of the VIBE CHECKUP (VCU) program lies a profound understanding that the emotional and mental wellbeing of our youth cannot be safeguarded by isolated efforts. This understanding is encapsulated in the timeless adage, “It Takes A Village,” a philosophy that guides every facet of the program’s design and implementation. This philosophy does not just serve as a thematic backdrop for VCU; it is the very blueprint upon which the program’s strategies and interventions are constructed, embodying a collective approach to youth mental health that is as comprehensive as it is compassionate.

The Goal of the Program: (Community Network Partners)

We are currently expanding our VIBE CHECKUP program to additional schools and as a critical part of this initiative, we are also preparing to host Teen-Led Mental Health Summits in every quadrant of Montgomery County in the Fall of 2024 and 2025. Our students, Community Network Partners (CNP), parents and school staff aka “The Village” are integral to these summits, focusing on subtle yet significant issues that may be hindering student success. Our primary goal is to address the critical needs of our youth for physical and emotional health and safety, which are vital in combating academic disengagement, chronic absenteeism, and learning loss, particularly in underrepresented communities.
In collaboration with teachers, parents, administrators, and Board of Education members, we aim to refine educational practices to better incorporate life skills, self-regulation, trust, and empathy alongside academic subjects. This holistic approach helps create an environment where students can effectively manage their emotions, leading to enhanced personal and academic outcomes.

Key Components of the VCU Program

Peer Coaches Leadership Intervention: This component trains youth to serve as mental health advocates, providing peer-to-peer support, empathy, and understanding.
Train-the-Trainer: This initiative equips parents and teachers with the tools they need to support teens while managing their own stress, reinforcing the “It Takes A Village” philosophy.
VCU Mobile App: A revolutionary platform offering personalized mood tracking, resource access, and direct support, enabling young people, along with their parents and teachers, to better monitor and manage their mental health.
Community Network Partnership (CNP): The success of the VCU program is significantly bolstered by its Village

Impact and Future Directions

The VCU program stands as a beacon of innovation and hope in the realm of youth mental health support. Through its comprehensive approach, the program not only addresses the immediate needs of young individuals but also lays the foundation for a future where every youth is empowered to realize their highest potential. As GSP continues to expand the VCU program and cultivate community partnerships, the vision of a community woven with the threads of understanding, healing, support, recovery, and resilience becomes increasingly attainable.

VCU embodies GSP’s commitment to a community-centric approach, leveraging the collective strength of diverse partnerships to foster a supportive environment for youth mental health and wellness. It is a testament to the urgent need for a paradigm shift towards more personalized, impactful, and innovative strategies in addressing the mental health challenges facing today’s youth.