Community Health Needs Assessment Theme 6: Safe Places Enable Socialization and Community-Building.
The sixth theme to come out of our 2025 community health needs assessment is the desire for safe places to socialize and build community. A strong and stable community fosters belonging. Youth want to be with their peers in safe places “in the real world”. And school is an inadequate place; they want fun places that address a variety of interests, including but not limited to listening to music, creating art, dancing, video gaming, and playing sports. Parents agree.
In our 2025 community health needs assessment, we heard 10 major themes impacting youth mental and behavioral health in St. Louis County. See them all and learn how we conducted this assessment.
Benefits of Community Spaces.
Parents agree with youth, adding that families also need places to gather. Some parents lament how digital technology has ruined family time, and the pandemic has reduced the availability of community-building activities. Across all regions, there are insufficient low-cost, convenient, and safe ways for families to spend time together outside of school-affiliated functions. Family-centered activities hosted by trusted organizations are needed, according to parents.
In addition to fostering belonging, community spaces offer other benefits. First, community spaces serve as a referral access point for health, education, and social services. Second, after-school and summer programs protect youth and neighborhoods against violence. Third, community spaces build relationships among parents. Lastly, community spaces provide access to structured enrichment programs, such as a mentoring program that offers networking, life skills training, role modeling, and more.
Part-Time Jobs Offer Networking.
The workplace is another valuable community space for youth. Parents see part-time jobs as opportunities to develop social/teamwork skills (aka, soft skills), gain responsibility, improve financial literacy, and explore careers. Workplaces offer networking for youth, which parents believe boosts resiliency and promotes mental well-being. Youth are eager to work, but there are not enough jobs.
We spoke to more than 300 St. Louisans to understand what needs exist when it comes to youth behavioral health. Learn more about our process.