Supporting Teens When It Matters Most: Our Conversation with Second Story

By Caroline Su and Jenny Huang

At Hopeful Minds Outreach, we believe that supporting youth mental health starts with listening to the organizations that work closest to young people in crisis. That belief guided our recent conversation with our community partner, Second Story, a nonprofit that has supported teens and families in Northern Virginia for more than five decades.

On January 30th, we spoke with Cathy Benn, Vice President of Residential Services, to better understand Second Story’s work and the serious challenges the organization now faces following the loss of critical federal funding.

A Lifeline for Teens and Families

Founded 53 years ago by local churches responding to youth who had nowhere else to go, Second Story has grown into a network of residential and community-based programs designed to help young people feel safe, supported, and healthy. Its services include:

• Teens in Crisis, providing short-term residential care for youth ages 13–17 who are unsafe at home

• Young Mothers Program, offering housing and case management for teen parents

• Homeless Youth Programs, helping students stay in school and transition toward independence

• Community-Based Programs, including after-school centers, teen spaces, and family resource hubs across Fairfax County

“These programs are all free to the young people and families we serve,” Benn explained. “But they are not free to run.”

The Impact of Federal Funding Loss

Second Story relies in part on grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to sustain its residential programs. In 2024, two long-standing HHS grants, supporting the Teens in Crisis and Young Mothers programs, were not renewed, resulting in a loss of approximately $500,000 in annual funding.

What made the loss especially difficult was the lack of explanation. “The application was complete. There were no errors and no feedback,” Benn shared. “But the funding stopped.”

Despite this setback, Second Story has made a clear decision: the programs will remain open. Staff and leadership have increased fundraising efforts, reached out to existing donors, and searched for alternative grants to ensure youth are not turned away.

Why This Matters to Our Local Community

While confidentiality prevents Second Story from identifying specific schools, Benn emphasized that the organization serves teens from across Fairfax County and nearby jurisdictions. Many of the young people supported by Second Story attend local public schools and live in the same communities as the students we see every day.

That reality makes the funding loss more than a distant policy issue. It directly affects young people in our region who may be struggling quietly.

“There are other teenagers out there who need help but don’t know we exist,” Benn said. “Spreading the word matters.”

Second Story operates a 24/7 hotline for teens seeking support, and its community-based programs reach thousands of youth and families each year through school supply drives, food distributions, after-school programs, and holiday support.

How Students Can Make a Difference

When asked how youth-led organizations like Hopeful Minds Outreach can help, Benn emphasized that student involvement plays a meaningful role.

“What you’re doing is amazing,” she said. “Awareness, fundraising, school drives - it all helps. It really does take a village.”

At Hopeful Minds Outreach, we are proud to support Second Story and uplift youth mental health in our local community. By raising awareness and engaging our peers, we hope to ensure that more young people know help is available and that organizations providing that help can continue their work without interruption.

When a community shows up, even in small ways, it can restore hope at the moments it’s needed most.