Mayo Clinic Health System (MCHS) awarded a $30,000 Hometown Health Grant to the Menomonie Police Department in support of the Youth Response Team (YRT) and Project Hope. The YRT is a multidisciplinary group that collaborates with community stakeholders to address the critical needs of at-risk children. It comprises members from the Menomonie Police Department, the School District of the Menomonie Area, and Dunn County Human Services and assesses whether identified youth require intervention through Project Hope.
 
Project Hope, implemented in 2020 through the police department, employs evidence-based strategies to offer treatment opportunities and reduce addiction stigma. The desired outcomes for at-risk youth include decreased delinquency, improved school attendance, and enhanced access to resources such as rehabilitation, therapy, mentoring, and extracurricular activities. These efforts aim to enhance youth wellness and protect against abuse. The funding award from MCHS will help expand mentoring opportunities and mental health services for youth in need.
 
Mayo Clinic Health System – Red Cedar in Menomonie prioritizes improving mental health by strengthening community mental health services, preventing suicide, and supporting resiliency across the life span. This is done by supporting local programs, initiatives and events that have a positive, lasting effect on community health and well-being.