Groups & Programs

The YSC staff are equipped to provide individualized anger management and emotional regulation support for students who are experiencing difficulty managing strong emotions, frustration, or conflict by offering one-on-one meetings with students to help them learn healthy coping strategies, problem-solving skills, effective communication techniques, and self-regulation tools to help them respond to challenging situations in positive and productive ways.

When appropriate, the YSC can also collaborate with families, school staff, and community partners to ensure students receive the additional support and resources they need to thrive.

What is it?

The YSC works with students and families to identify barriers affecting school attendance. Our goal is to help students attend school consistently so they can be successful academically and personally.

Who is it for?

Students experiencing attendance concerns.

Services may include:

• Problem-solving attendance barriers

• Referrals to community resources

• Parent meetings

• Transportation or basic needs assistance when available

• Collaboration with school staff

How to access: Contact the YSC or ask your Counselor or AP for a referral.

See also: Hardin County Schools Student Attendance Tips

What is it?

The Hardin County School FRYSCs collaborate to host the annual Back to School Fests to help families prepare for the new school year by connecting them with school and community resources in one convenient location.

What you'll find:

• Community resource booths

• Free activities

• Information about school programs

• Giveaways (while supplies last)

• Family-friendly fun

Who can attend?

All Hardin County School families.

• North-end families can attend the annual Trojan Fest @ NHHS

• Centrally-located families can attend the annual Bulldog Fest @ JHHS

• South-end families can attend the annual Bruin Fest @ CHHS

What is it?

No student should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. These programs provide supplemental food assistance and families experiencing food insecurity.

Programs include:

• In collaboration with Feeding America, the Backpack Program provides families with easy to prepare non-perishable foods that they can eat at home during weekends and holidays. Items included in these bags are things like shelf-stable milk, cereal, canned meals, tuna or chicken, pudding cups, canned vegetables, breakfast and protein bars, etc.

• In collaboration with the HCS Nutrition Services and the NHHS Cafeteria, the Food Share Program provides families a part of the Backpack Program with leftover school food to take home with them.

Who qualifies?

Students, staff members, and families experiencing food insecurity.

How to apply: Contact the YSC confidentially.

What to look for:

• Hoarding food

• Coming in on Monday morning "starved"

• Often asking for food

• Seemingly unable to get enough

• Taking food from others

• Asking if able to take food home

• Health in decline

BRIDGE stands for Bringing Resources, Inspiration, Direction, and Guidance to Education. The program is designed to provide personalized support that helps students overcome challenges, stay on track academically, and successfully reach graduation.

Students who may benefit from BRIDGE include:

• Students experiencing academic challenges: Students who are struggling with grades, falling behind in coursework, or at risk of not graduating can be paired with trained senior student mentors from the Youth Services Center. Mentors meet with students regularly to provide encouragement, accountability, study support, and assistance with assignments.

• Students returning from College View: Students transitioning back to North Hardin High School after attending College View will receive individualized support from the YSC School/Home/Community Liaison to help ensure a smooth and successful transition back into the traditional school environment.

• Students returning from a mental health treatment facility: Students re-entering school following a stay at a mental health facility will work closely with the YSC Coordinator to develop a healthy balance between their emotional well-being and academic responsibilities. The goal is to provide ongoing support, connect students with appropriate resources, and help them feel confident and successful as they transition back to school.

Through meaningful relationships, individualized support, and connections to valuable resources, BRIDGE helps students build confidence, overcome obstacles, and stay focused on achieving their educational goals.

School Smiles provides on-site comprehensive dental healthcare services for children throughout the country.

Insured or Uninsured - Everyone is Welcome!

No child is ever turned away due to inability to pay.

Comprehensive dental care for children of all ages and grade levels includes:

• Cleanings

• Fluoride treatments

• Sealants

• Dental X-rays

• Restorative care (fillings)

• Silver diamine fluoride (SDF)

• Crowns

• Extractions

School Smiles Dental Forms are sent home on the first day of school to be completed and returned.

See the School Smiles Website for more information.

What is it?

The "Friends of Rachel" (FOR) Club is a student-led group dedicated to promoting kindness, compassion, and positive change within a school community, inspired by Rachel's Challenge.

Rachel's Challenge is an organization that tells the story of Rachel Scott, the first victim of the Columbine school shooting. Rachel believed that kindness could change the world. After her death, stories emerged of the things Rachel had done that made a difference in the lives of those around her.

Activities include:

• School-wide kindness campaigns, like No One Eats Alone

• Community service projects

• Positive leadership opportunities

What is it?

Our Girls Leadership Group is led by our community partner, Silverleaf Sexual Trauma Recovery Services, and empowers young women to become confident leaders through mentorship, service, personal growth, and leadership development.

Topics may include:

• Confidence

• Healthy relationships

• Goal setting

• Career exploration

• Teamwork

• Community service

What is it?

Green Dot is an evidence-based bystander intervention initiative designed to prevent power-based personal violence, including sexual assault, stalking, and relationship violence. It empowers schools and communities to proactively model behaviors that reject violence and safely intervene in risky situations using the "3 D's": Direct, Delegate, and Distract.

Students learn how small actions can make a big difference in creating a safer school community.

Monthly initiatives include:

• September - Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

• October - Domestic Violence Awareness Month

• November - Block It Out! Cyber Bullying Prevention Awareness Month

• December - Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Awareness Month

• January - Human Trafficking Awareness Month

• February - Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

• March - Nutrition Month and Eating Disorder Awareness Month

• April - Sexual Assault & Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month

• May - Mental Health Awareness Month

The YSC partners with various community organizations to provide educational presentations during health classes.

Topics may include:

• Mental health

• Healthy relationships

• Substance abuse prevention

• Drinking and driving prevention

• Human trafficking awareness

• Internet safety

• Green Dot

• Tobacco Education

• Nutrition

• Overdose awareness and resources

• First Aid/Stop the Bleed/Hands Only CPR

• Reducing the Risk: Building Skills to Prevent Pregnancy, STD & HIV (permission form required)

The YSC partners with community organizations to provide assistance during the holiday season for families experiencing financial hardship.

Assistance may include:

• Thanksgiving meal baskets

• Christmas meal baskets

• Christmas gifts

• Referrals to community programs

Please note: Availability depends on donations and community partners.

Hope Collaborative is an outreach program that offers school-based mentoring for public school students. Caring adults consistently meet with students one hour a week to develop meaningful relationships and promote character growth, socio-emotional development, and academic achievement.

The mentors typically begin mentoring students in elementary school and stick with those students all throughout their school career.

The YSC collaborates with the NHHS Senior English Department to provide realistic mock interviews to students with the help of local business professionals and community volunteers to prepare the students for employment after high school.

Students receive:

• Interview experience

• Professional feedback

• Resume tips

• Confidence-building practice

Each April, North Hardin High School celebrated military-connected students and recognizes the sacrifices made by military families.

Activities may include:

• Purple Up Day

• Student recognition

• Special events, like Muffins with the Military

All activities are coordinated by the YSC School/Home/Community Liaison and in collaboration with the NHHS JROTC.

North Star is a student of the month program the YSC offers in collaboration with the PBIS Committee. PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports and is a school-wide approach that aims to create a safe and effective learning environment for students by teaching them behavior expectations and strategies. PBIS focuses on prevention, not punishment.

North Star Character Traits are:

• September - Positive Attitude

• October - Responsibility

• November - Citizenship

• December - Integrity

• January - Respect

• February - Caring

• March - Perseverance

• April - Courage

• May - Trust

• June/July - Kindness

Reality Stores are interactive financial literacy experiences where students receive a career, salary, and family scenario and learn how to budget for real-life expenses.

The YSC collaborates with the NHHS Personal Finance Teacher to implement a Reality Store Simulation called "Life Bites".

Life Bites is designed to simulate real world budgeting and provide students with an interactive experience to develop financial literacy skills.

The game takes place over the course of on fictional month in the players' lives after graduating from high school. Each student will be assigned a career, salary, and life scenario based on the student's career pathway. The careers in the game reflect the NHHS Career Pathway Catalog. They vary widely and represent a range of salaries and educational requirements. As students move through the game, they will need to make "life" purchases from the different stations around the room while managing their budget to make sure they don't run out of money.

Students practice making decisions about:

• Housing

• Transportation

• Childcare

• Insurance

• Food

• Savings

• Entertainment

The YSC helps senior student prepare for life after graduation while celebrating their accomplishments.

Programs and activities may include:

• Senior Decision Day

• Graduation support

• College and career resources

• Military transition resources

• Scholarship information

• Senior recognition ceremonies

The YSC partners with the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. - Radcliff Chapter to implement this monthly mentorship through NHHS. The purpose of this program is to provide male students with positive role models who will help promote self-esteem, strengthen problem-solving skills, encourage academic achievement, and support personal and social development.

Permission forms are available in the YSC.

Community resource Helping Hand of Hope partnered with each high school in Hardin County to share this new opportunity called Slow Cook, Strong Girl. This program was designed especially for girls who may be carrying a lot of responsibility at home - helping care for siblings, managing household tasks, or even preparing meals for their families.

Each participant receives:

• A slow cooker to take home

• A teen-friendly slow cooker cookbook

• Pantry starter items

• A reusable tote bag

• Basic kitchen tools

• A handwritten note of encouragement

The YSC offers programs and activities designed to help students build healthy coping skills and improve emotional well-being.

Topics may include:

• Stress management

• Anxiety reduction

• Mindfulness

• Emotional regulation

• Self-care

• Coping strategies

• Healthy relationships

In addition to our structured programs, the Youth Services Center Coordinator and School/Home/Community Liaison are available throughout the school day to provide support for those who may be experiencing anxiety, stress, emotional distress, or other personal challenges. Whether the individual in need is feeling overwhelmed by school, struggling with relationships, coping with a difficult situation at home, or simply needs someone to listen, the YSC offers a safe, welcoming, and confidential space to talk.

The Teens As Parents (TAP) Programs provides support for expectant and parenting students as they balance school and family responsibilities. The School/Home/Community Liaison collaborates with various community partners to provide resources for the TAP students, such as Baptist Health Hardin, Clarity Solutions, Lincoln Trail District Health Department HANDS (Health Access Nurturing Development Services) & WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Programming, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Medicaid Services, and more.

Services may include:

• Parenting education

• Baby supplies

• Community referrals

• Resource connections

• Goal setting

• Graduation support

Our goal is to help young parents stay in school while building a healthy future for themselves and their children.

The Welcome Program helps new and returning students transition successfully to North Hardin High School by connecting them with school resources, answering questions, and helping them feel as home. Enrollments are pulled every two weeks and the new and returning students receive a welcome package including a letter and an agenda.

Additional support may include:

• School tours

• Resource information

• Peer connections

• Access to mentoring

• Check-ins throughout the year when necessary

The YSC partners with the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Mentoring Program here in Radcliff to implement this monthly mentorship through NHHS. The purpose of this mentoring program is to provide female high school students with positive role models while promoting self-esteem, problem-solving skills, academic achievement, and appreciation of diversity.

Permission forms are available in the YSC.