Why We Fight for Change
Tippecanoe County is facing a severe youth mental health crisis — one that cannot be ignored any longer. With almost 200,000 residents, rising living costs, and wages that do not match today’s pressures, many families are forced to make impossible choices. Too often, that means sacrificing essential healthcare, prescriptions, groceries, transportation, or utilities just to stay afloat.
At the same time, our youth are struggling more than ever.
Unresolved Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are one of the leading risk factors for developing mental health disorders and substance use issues later in life. Kids who don’t get the support they need often grow into adults who continue the cycle — unless someone steps in early enough to help.
Right now, if a child under 18 in our county needs mental health services, the wait can be months to a year. When they finally get in, many only receive help once every two weeks or less.
Even worse, Tippecanoe County has ZERO substance-use treatment programs for anyone under 18.
Not one.
Some facts:
We are the 8th largest county in Indiana by population.
We are currently building FOUR brand new medical facilities, none of which will treat youth mental health or SUDs.
We are home to Purdue University.
And yet, we cannot offer our kids the help they desperately need.
Now the uncomfortable facts:
Suicide is the #1 cause
of death in the State of
Indiana for youth ages
10-14.
Tippecanoe County has
the 12th highest youth
suicide rate of all Indiana Counties.
Out of 92
Source of Truth: 2026 Indiana KIDS COUNT Data Book https://iyi.org/resources/indiana-kids-count-data-book/
Our Vision
We believe Tippecanoe County should have:
Community-based prevention and education
Early-intervention supports
Trauma informed practitioners
Intensive outpatient programs for youth
Partial hospitalization programs for youth
Inpatient mental health facilities
Inpatient and outpatient substance-use treatment specifically for adolescents
This isn’t optional.
It’s overdue.
When 200,000 people make enough noise — enough to say “we want our tax dollars, our donations, and our community support invested HERE, in our kids” — we must listen.
Politics fade away.
Arguments fade away.
What remains is our shared hope for our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and neighbors — and our determination to break generational cycles that have caused far too much harm.
The truth is simple:
When a teenager is finally ready to ask for help, that help needs to be available.
Immediately. Compassionately. Locally.
No more waitlists.
No more hour-long drives.
No more parents told to “come back if things get worse.”
Our kids deserve better.
That is the heart of the Collect;bles for Change Foundation.
Want to Get Involved?
If you’d like to volunteer, join our mission, or learn more:
📧 Email us at advocate@cfcimpact.org
💛 We would love to connect with you.