As students across Reno County head back to school, the Rise Up Reno Prevention Network is ramping up its efforts to support youth through mentoring programs, mental health education, and community outreach.
Lisa Orrison and John Young, leaders with the nonprofit organization, recently joined the BW Morning Show to share how Rise Up Reno serves not just USD 308, but all school districts in Reno County. Their goal: help kids make healthy choices and ensure every student feels connected.
"We run several programs around the community, but a lot of it's really focused on giving, helping kids make healthy choices, as well as informing the community about Mental Health Suicide Prevention." said Young. "Also, we have mentoring programs as well as also we have some leadership programs in the high school and middle schools as well. So, we do a lot of different things."
Young tells us, "We do a training with all of our mentors, as well as we do background checks and all of that. And then also we kind of will go on through the process. I'll kind of talk to them and get to know them and know their interest. And then that way, especially if they're doing maybe our more of our one to one base mentoring, it kind of helps, helps me match them up with a kid that might have some of the same interest and and just help them make a good connection."
As schools reopen, mental health remains a critical focus. Orrison encouraged families to start a routine, prioritize sleep and nutrition, and most importantly—talk. Ask your kids how their day was. Even short conversations can open the door to deeper discussions. Orrison tells us, "If you see something, say something, it's okay to ask if you're struggling.".
Orrison added, "Parents can also call us and refer their student to the mentoring program. So, if you want your student to have a one-to-one match, you can call us and give us their information, and John can get that set up for you
Students, too, are encouraged to look out for one another. “If a student knows that a friend or, you know, peer is struggling, the best thing they can do is say, I will go with you to talk to someone who can help you." Orrison said. “So, all of the, all of the staff is trained to help a student. They know best, they have protocol in place for that."
Most of the focus of Rise Up Reno’s programming is driven by data from the Kansas Communities That Care (KCTC) survey. Which is a survey given to sixth, eighth, tenth and twelfth grade students.
Orrison tells us, "That survey lets us know best what they're dealing with. And then there's data from many different resources, you know, so we look at that data, and then we decide what's happening in our community, and then we start tackling that head on."
Rise Up Reno also partners with the Reno County Suicide Prevention Coalition and has strong working relationships with local mental health professionals. "We wouldn't have a problem calling someone and saying, Hey, I've got this issue. What can we do about it?" Orrison said.
Don’t wait if you think something’s wrong, support is out there, and sometimes all it takes is a conversation to start the path toward healing.
For those wanting to get involved or seeking help, Rise Up Reno can be reached at (620) 615-4018 or through their website at www.riseupreno.org. The website also offers parent resources and more information about upcoming events.