Bridal Apples, founder and acting executive director of the Crystal Lake Teen Center ("The Break"), described a multi-part prevention and youth-engagement program and asked the McHenry County Mental Health Board to continue and expand support for staffing and programming.

The Break presented a "circle of support" that includes a drop-in program, an out-of-school suspension alternative, a summer program, free trial music lessons, and youth leadership initiatives across multiple communities. "Our goal at the Break is to provide our adolescents and our young adults with a safe place to connect, have fun, find opportunities, and thrive into adulthood," Bridal Apples said.

She described the suspension program as a three- to five-day alternative for students suspended for substance-use violations. The program provides substitute teachers who keep students current on assignments, coaches who work on goal-setting, and referrals to local resources. The Break piloted the program with District 47, which provided school-based mental-health grant funds to help launch the effort; district support is currently limited through Dec. 31, the presenter said.

Bridal Apples said the program also received support from an "AHP" (Advanced Human Potential) grant that pays substitute teachers and other staff for the suspension program. Board members praised the program's ability to help students stay on track academically. "When kids get suspended I can tell you many of them... are going to sit home and use substances," one board member said, describing the program as a "godsend."

The Break also reported a summer program that served roughly 35 participants this year (about 23 consistently), a music-access initiative offering four free lessons to members, and countywide youth committees funded through a Community Foundation grant. Bridal Apples said the Break plans to expand beyond District 47 but that other districts have not yet committed sustained funding.

Board members discussed district responsibility for sustained support. Several members said the county organization filled an unmet need and expressed willingness to advocate for school-district investment. No formal funding decision was made at the meeting; the presentation was part of the board's review of FY26 funding requests.