If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911. If you need information on community resources, call 211 or go to myfirstlink.org. For support, safety planning, housing concerns, or a difficult situation, Youthworks crisis lines are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
(701) 255-6909
(701) 232-8558
(701) 425-1042
(701) 232-8558
(701) 255-6909
See Their Strength is a monthly blog by Melanie Heitkamp that offers honest reflections, fresh insight, and thoughtful challenges to how we understand and support young people. From myth-busting posts to moments of lived truth, this space invites readers to look beyond surface behaviors and see the capacity, courage, and complexity youth carry every day.
Whether you’re a caregiver, educator, donor, business leader, or young person yourself, this blog is for anyone ready to shift the conversation from “what’s wrong?” to “what’s possible?”
Together, we’ll explore the everyday strength of youth—and what it means to truly see it.
Join Their Joy By Melanie Heitkamp, LCSWThere are a lot of moments with young people that are easy to overlook. They’re on their phone watching something you don’t understand. Laughing at a video that seems completely random. Sending memes back and forth that...
What We Mean When We Say BelongingBy Melanie Heitkamp, LCSW Before we talk about programs, strategies, or outcomes, it’s worth starting with something simpler—what youth actually say.“Youthworks is like a second family to me” “I’m comfortable here. Mi Familia.”...
What We Call BehaviorBy Melanie Heitkamp, LCSWWhat We See He comes into the house and you can feel it before he even says a word. The door shuts harder than it needs to. His shoes are kicked off in the middle of the entryway. His backpack hits the floor and...
They Need Our Protection, TooBy Melanie Heitkamp, LCSWApril is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. When we talk about child abuse, the focus is almost always on young children—and for good reason. The data is clear. Infants and very young children are the most...
“Why Did They Lie to Me?” – Understanding Youth, Truth, and TrustBy Melanie Heitkamp, LCSW | Executive Director Emeritus, Youthworks A Note to Parents One of the most heart-wrenching questions parents ask me is:“Why did they lie to me?” It stings. Especially when...
Showing Up with Kindness By Melanie Heitkamp, LCSW Some of the most powerful moments I’ve witnessed in my 40+ years working with youth didn’t happen in therapy offices or courtrooms. They happened in school hallways, park benches, and quiet corners of drop-in...
What We Mean When We Say Human Trafficking By Melanie Heitkamp, LCSW | Executive Director Emeritus, Youthworks Governor Kelly Armstrong has signed a proclamation recognizing January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month in North Dakota. This is important and this...
Are Youth Really “Worse Off” Today? Unpacking the Myth and Celebrating Their Strengths By Melanie Heitkamp, LCSW | Executive Director Emeritus, Youthworks There’s a myth that’s been echoing across generations: “Kids these days…”—as if every new generation of...
What 40 Years of Listening Has Taught Me About Runaway Youth By Melanie Heitkamp, LCSW | Executive Director Emeritus, Youthworks Every November used to be called Runaway Prevention Month. And it made sense at the time. When young people leave home without...