Katelyn Root has experience working with at-risk youth through various roles at organizations like Ingham County Youth Center, Community Mental Health, and Michigan State University. She has helped youth build healthy relationships and redirect risky behaviors through mentoring, summer camp directing, respite care providing, teaching, and advocating. Her work focuses on pro-social skills, strength-based goals, and positive community involvement.

1. Katelyn Michelle Root
269-806-2515 / rootkate@msu.edu / 5775 Rolling Pines Ct. Kalamazoo, MI 49009
Education
Michigan State University
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology May 2014
Experience
Ingham County Youth Center
Risk Behavior Thought Training April 2014 – Present
• Learning and applying evidence based practices in the context of working with at risk youth
• Discussing and working with others in the field towards better ways to build healthy
relationships with youth and how to redirect their behaviors and thoughts by doing so, in order
to make a difference in their lives
Community Mental Health
Summer Camp Director June 2013 – July 2014
• Coordinates all aspects of a six week summer camp program through Community Mental
Health’s Family Guidance Services as a Family Support Worker
• Working towards building healthy relationships with both the individual and the group
• Helps youth work on pro-social skills and building healthy relationships with each other
• Providing an opportunity for kids with emotional, mental, and behavioral issues to be active and
involved with the community and other youth in a summer camp-like atmosphere
Community Mental Health
Family Support Worker May 2013 – Present
• Provides respite care to families and youth through the Family Guidance Children Services
department
• Working towards pro-social behaviors and planning activities
• Builds healthy relationships with youth and their families
• Maintains relationships with Family Guidance therapists and supervisors
Michigan State University Adolescent Diversion Program
Teaching Assistant/ Intern August 2013 – May 2014
• Mentored my peers based on my personal experiences as a mentor myself
• Taught my peers strength based intervention strategies and advocacy
• Attended weekly staff meetings to help work towards bettering the lives of the youth in our
community by overcoming barriers and making positive community connections
Michigan State University Adolescent Diversion Program
Advocate August 2012 – May 2013
• Mentored an at risk youth involved in the juvenile justice system, mental health system, and
social services system
• Built healthy positive relationships with youth and developed an action plan together to aid in
accomplishing goals
• Worked towards positive, strength based goals, while getting involved in pro-social community
activities, that build on the youth’s strengths and interests
• Advocated for youth to pursue their goals and strengths by making community connections and
modeling self advocacy behaviors