Our challenge

The family is the basic building block of our society. Yet sadly, too many families suffer devastating effects of mental health conditions.

In order to stop the life-long harmful effects of psychological illnesses, we must reach at-risk children at a very young age, when intervention is most effective in helping them grow to be healthy and successful academically, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

Without treatment, children with mental health conditions are at an increased risk of school failure, contact with the criminal justice system, dependence on social services, and suicide.

How You Can Help

We need your help. Please consider giving back to your community by donating your time and philanthropic efforts to this cause.

Together we can build a stronger framework for social health. Together we can design better prevention and treatment approaches for children and families with psychiatric disorders. Together, we can make a difference.

For more information on the Avera Institute for Human Behavioral Genetics and how you can be part of an advanced future in behavioral health within our communities, please call the Avera McKennan Foundation at (605) 322-8900.