Founded in 2000, notMYkid is a Scottsdale-based non-profit dedicated to inspiring positive life choices by educating individuals and communities about behavioral health topics. With the onset of Covid-19 and an increased need for online resources, notMYkid has taken action to activate a digital transformation that allows their team to deliver high quality prevention, early intervention and support programs via telehealth and web-based communication platforms.
“We have experienced a massive disruption to our programs,” said Kristen Polin, CEO, notMYkid. “We also lost a projected $400,000 from our annual fundraiser that should have taken place on April 3rd for our 20th anniversary celebration. Our peer prevention specialists were on the front lines helping teens and families in need before all of this came to a crashing halt, just as their need has dramatically increased given the school closings and shutting down of everyday normal life as we know it. All our social research tells us substance abuse, depression, and suicide are exacerbated by isolation and disruption of normal routines in our youth. Our need to help is urgent.”
The organization's signature program, amplif(i), has moved online, as well as Project Rewind Early Intervention Family Program that supports families that are experiencing problems associated with teen drug and alcohol use. The program that was once provided in notMYkid’s “Living Room” is now going live in the living rooms of families in a group format. Youth “Talk About It” and #TeenTalk Support Group are now happening weekly in live online chat rooms. Also, notMYkid is offering ASIST and Teen Mental Health First Aid training to educate adults and teens about common mental health challenges. TeleHealth Peer Support is also a key program that notMYkid is offering at this time.
To donate, please visit notMYkid.org.