NC COUNTS

COVID 19 Response

Shout out to Dr. Frankie Denise Powell- Region 2 Director for NC Counts.

During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic The 20 teamed up with the NC Counts Coalition for North

Carolina’s COVID Response. We worked around the clock to ensure that North Carolina’s most

vulnerable communities had access to COVID-19 resources- including food, jobs (we employed

over 15 people)

Strengthening Youth Well‑Being Through Community

Partnership

NC Counts Coalition × The Twenty Inc.

Partnership Overview

NC Counts Coalition and The Twenty Inc. have formed a strategic partnership to advance youth

mental health, resilience, and community healing in Winston‑Salem and Forsyth County. Rooted in

community‑driven approaches, this collaboration centers youth voice, addresses intergenerational

trauma, and builds capacity among trusted local leaders to respond to the complex social and

emotional challenges facing young people.

NC Counts Coalition brings statewide leadership in data‑driven advocacy, behavioral health equity,

and community engagement, while The Twenty Inc. contributes deep, place‑based expertise in

youth development, mentorship, and trauma‑informed programming. Together, the partners align

data, practice, and lived experience to create culturally responsive solutions with measurable impact.

Why This Partnership Matters: Local Youth Data

Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data from Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County highlight urgent

needs that underscore the importance of this partnership:

● Mental Health & Emotional Well‑Being

○ Over 1 in 3 students (35%) reported feeling sad or hopeless for two or more

weeks, a key indicator of depressive symptoms.

○ Nearly 20% of students reported seriously considering suicide, with approximately

11% reporting a suicide attempt in the past year.

○ Among students experiencing persistent sadness, fewer than 1 in 4 said they would

talk to a parent or adult family member about how they were feeling.

● Exposure to Violence & Trauma

○ More than 25% of students reported being in a physical fight in the past year.

○ Over 15% experienced bullying on school property, and more than 12% reported

being electronically bullied.

○ Approximately 12% experienced sexual violence, and 6–7% experienced physical

dating violence.

○ Nearly 1 in 3 students reported gang activity in their school, contributing to

chronic stress and trauma.

● Substance Use & Risk Behaviors

○ Nearly 19% of students reported current marijuana use, and almost 50% reported

having used vaping products.

○ Students experiencing poorer academic outcomes consistently reported higher rates

of substance use, violence exposure, and psychological distress.

(Source: Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey, released July

2020)

Translating Data into Action

The NC Counts–The Twenty Inc. partnership uses these findings to drive community‑centered

solutions, including:

● Community Conversations on Intergenerational Trauma

Facilitated dialogues that help youth, caregivers, and community members understand how

historical and ongoing trauma shapes behavior, health, and opportunity—and how healing

can occur collectively.

● Trauma‑Informed Youth Engagement

Programs that create safe spaces for young people to process experiences of violence, loss,

and stress while building coping skills, leadership, and peer connection.

● Data‑Informed Advocacy & Capacity Building

Leveraging YRBS and local data to strengthen grantmaking, policy advocacy, and

community education efforts that directly reflect local needs.

Shared Vision for Impact

Together, NC Counts Coalition and The Twenty Inc. are committed to:

● Reducing youth mental health disparities

● Strengthening protective factors such as trusted adult relationships

● Elevating youth voice in community decision‑making

● Advancing healing‑centered, culturally responsive practices

By aligning statewide resources with grassroots leadership, this partnership helps ensure that young

people in Winston‑Salem and Forsyth County are not only seen in the data—but supported in real,

meaningful ways.