For Parents & Students

Our Volunteers: Undergraduate and medical students from Quinnipiac and Yale

Our Leadership: Medical students from Quinnipiac and Yale, Yale Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellows, a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, and an Adult Psychiatrist 

Our Sessions: 

  • Topics:
    • Empathetically Identifying Emotions Part I
    • Empathetically Indetifying Emotions Part II
    • Courageous Interpersonal Communication
    • Panel of Mental Health Providers 
  • Sessions are developed from evidence-based practice using the following principles:
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
    • Dialectical Behavior Therapy 
  • Session Dates (all during 9th grade advisory times, 8:55-9:45am):
    • December 10, 2025
    • January 14, 2026
    • January 28, 2026

Our collaboration with Hillhouse high school includes administration (principal) and mental health staff (social workers). 

Our Volunteer Training and Development: 

  • Training for volunteers has been thoughtfully and carefully developed for our program: including a mental health curriculum training, a panel from New Haven residents to discuss the experience and challenges of growing up in New Haven, and hearing from the school administration of some of the experience or challenges of students in the school. This is an all-day training experience.  
  • We have developed a Student Safety Protocol, in conjunction with school social workers, to ensure volunteers understand the proper steps if a mental health emergency with a Hillhouse student were to arise. 
  • We have developed an During-Session Procedures, to go through potential difficult scenarios with our volunteers and ensure clarity, boundary, and safety of Hillhouse students and volunteers. 
  • We have developed a Volunteer Safety Protocol, to ensure that volunteers are properly supported throughout their time in the program. 

Our Evaluation: 

Through Rising Youth, we hope to establish a lasting partnership between Hillhouse High School and students from two local institutions. Our goal is to cultivate essential mental health skills that can benefit all individuals, particularly if developed at a younger age. Throughout this process, we will assess Hillhouse students’ experiences and learning outcomes from the sessions. In addition to feedback from both volunteers and Hillhouse students, we will use these insights to continuously improve and refine the program.

Please readily reach out to us with any questions! We welcome your engagement.