Better Together Hennepin

Better Together Hennepin promotes adolescent sexual health and wellbeing.

Better Together Hennepin values young people as important members of our community. Adolescence is a critical stage of life and young people have unique and specific needs. Sexual health is a key component of adolescent health and wellbeing. Yet, not all youth have what they need, especially youth affected by racism and other barriers.

When youth have education and support, they can reach their hopes and dreams in the future.

Our approach

With our community partners we provide four key supports:

Connections to caring adults
Access to adolescent friendly health care
Opportunities for healthy youth development
Comprehensive sexual health education

We provide programs in Hennepin County neighborhoods and cities with the greatest needs. This ensures that youth who need services the most, have access.

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Programs

Health mentors for youth

Health mentors are sexual health educators that work in schools and agencies. They provide education and connect youth to clinics to help them be healthy.

They work with youth one-on-one, in small groups, and in classrooms.

Health mentors consider the diverse needs of youth so they can be healthy, safe and supported.

Each location’s activities vary.

Schools with health mentors

Armstrong High School, Robbinsdale
Cooper High School, Robbinsdale
Brooklyn Center High School, Brooklyn Center
Edison High School, Minneapolis
El Colegio High School, Minneapolis
FAIR/Wellstone High School
Henry High School, Minneapolis
Hiawatha Collegiate High School, Minneapolis
Hopkins High School, Hopkins
Hopkins West Junior High, Hopkins
Loring Nicollet Alternative, Minneapolis
The Link Juvenile Justice Programs, Minneapolis
Menlo Park Alternative High School, Minneapolis
North High School, Minneapolis
Prairie Seeds Academy, Brooklyn Park
PYC Alternative High School, Minneapolis
Richfield High School, Richfield
Roosevelt High School, Minneapolis
Sojourner Truth Academy, Minneapolis
South High School, Minneapolis

Health mentor sites supported by other funders

Longfellow Alternative High School, Minneapolis
Southwest High School, Minneapolis
Washburn High School, Minneapolis

Parent education

We work with community agencies to provide education to parents for raising sexually healthy children. Parent workshops focus on having effective conversations with youth. The workshops cover strong relationships, open communication, and clear messages about values and expectations.

For more information contact Emily Scribner-O’Pray at emily.scribner-opray@hennepin.us.

Clinic engagement

We work to improve access to adolescent-friendly sexual health care. To do this, we engage young people, health care professionals and adolescent health experts.

This effort aims to create sexual health care for youth that is:

High quality
Adolescent-friendly
Trauma-informed
Inclusive
Confidential
Available to young people 13-24

Supporting youth in the justice system

We work with Family Tree Clinic to provide sexual health education to young people involved in the justice system. The clinic provides workshops to youth in the county juvenile detention center and health mentors at The Link Juvenile Justice Programs.

This work includes a drop-in support group for LGBTQIA+ youth with experience in the justice, foster care or other county systems.

Partners

Clinics and community organizations

Schools

Brooklyn Center Community Schools
El Colegio High School
Hopkins Public Schools
Minneapolis Public Schools
Prairie Seeds Academy
Robbinsdale Area Public Schools
Richfield Public Schools
Sojourner Truth Academy

photo of large diverse group of young people smiling, who are members of the youth leadership council

Youth leadership councils

The councils mobilize their community around adolescent sexual health and wellbeing:

Brooklyn Center Youth Leadership Council
El Colegio High School ¿QuéOnda? Peer Educators
Hiawatha Academy ¿QuéOnda? Peer Educators
Minneapolis School-Based Clinics T.H.E. Council
North High Peer Educators
Richfield High School ¿QuéOnda? Peer Educators
Richfield High School Student Wellness Council
Minneapolis School Based Clinics Teen Health Empowerment (THE) Council
Robbinsdale Armstrong Youth Leadership Council
Robbinsdale Cooper Youth Leadership Council

Community advisory group

Annex Teen Clinic
Between Us/Aquí Para Ti – Hennepin Healthcare
Brooklyn Center Public Schools
Family Tree Clinic
Hennepin County – Transition Aged Youth
Indian Health Board
Minneapolis Health Department
Minneapolis Public Schools
Minnesota Department of Health
myHealth for teens and young adults
NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center
Park Nicollet Foundation
Planned Parenthood North Central States
Richfield Public Schools
Richfield-Bloomington-Edina Public Health
University of Minnesota - Healthy Youth Development Prevention Research Center
Youthprise

Funders

Funders interested in investing in youth can contact Emily Scribner-O'Pray at emily.scribner-opray@hennepin.us.

Becoming an adolescent friendly clinic

Helping clinics create good outcomes for youth

Better Together Hennepin wants all youth in Hennepin County to have access to high-quality sexual health care. Our program organized an advisory group to create the Standards of Care for Adolescent Health Care. These standards help clinics identify key aspects of accessible, adolescent friendly care.

We offer guidance and training to strengthen clinics’ ability to serve youth. Clinics can take part in an assessment process. Interested clinics should contact Katie Miller at katie.miller@hennepin.us.

Resources for clinics

Standards of Care for Adolescent Health Care (PDF)
Clinic assessment questions (PDF)
Adolescent specific satisfaction survey (PDF)
E-training for clinics: This training helps your clinic align with the Minnesota Minors' Consent Law. Any clinic staff can take the training. Access the training.

List of adolescent-friendly clinics

Visit MyselfMyhealth.org.

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