Our Story: Why We Fight for Change

Tippecanoe County is facing a severe youth mental health crisis — one that cannot be ignored any longer. With almost 200,000 residents, rising living costs, and wages that do not match today’s pressures, many families are forced to make impossible choices. Too often, that means sacrificing essential healthcare, prescriptions, groceries, transportation, or utilities just to stay afloat.

At the same time, our youth are struggling more than ever.

Unresolved Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are one of the leading risk factors for developing mental health disorders and substance use issues later in life. Kids who don’t get the support they need often grow into adults who continue the cycle — unless someone steps in early enough to help.

Right now, if a child under 18 in our county needs mental health services, the wait can be months to a year. When they finally get in, many only receive help once every two weeks or less.

Even worse, Tippecanoe County has no substance-use treatment programs for anyone under 18.

Not one.

We are the 7th largest county in Indiana.
We are building our 3rd and 4th full-service hospitals with ERs.
We are home to Purdue University.

And yet, we cannot offer our kids the help they desperately need. 

What's worse?

  • Suicide is the #2 cause of death in the State of Indiana for youth 10 and older

  • In 2023, nearly 1 in 4 Indiana high school students (23.6%) reported having made a plan to commit suicide. 

                                                                                                                                                                             Source:  https://www.in.gov/issp/about-suicide-prevention/ 

Who We Are

We are parents.
We are mental health students.
We are community members and volunteers.
We are people who have heard “no,” “we can’t help,” and “we won’t accept them here” far too many times.

We have held the hands of struggling teens.
We have lost children to their own battles.
We have seen firsthand what happens when a system fails the very kids it is supposed to protect.

And we decided that “no” was no longer an acceptable answer.

Our Mission

Collect;bles for Change Foundation™️ is a nonprofit organization (501(c)(3) pending) based in Lafayette, Indiana. Our mission is to:

  • Actively advocate for expanded youth mental health services

  • Push for local substance-use treatment options specifically for adolescents

  • Support families who don’t know where to turn

  • Raise funds to fuel long-overdue change in our community

How We Support Our Mission

Community support is essential to creating lasting change. In addition to advocacy and outreach, we engage with the community through local events that help sustain our work.

To responsibly grow our impact and protect the resources used to create our products, our merchandise is sold through a small business entity that supports the Foundation’s charitable mission. This structure allows us to focus the Foundation’s efforts on advocacy and youth services while maintaining clear operational boundaries.

Every purchase — whether it’s a thrifted hoodie, a collectible item, or a handmade craft — helps us fight for the resources our kids deserve. 

**Product sales are not tax-deductible donations.**

Our Vision

We believe Tippecanoe County should have:

  • Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) for youth

  • Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs)

  • Inpatient mental health facilities

  • Inpatient and outpatient substance-use treatment specifically for adolescents

  • Early-intervention supports

  • Community-based prevention and education

  • Trauma-Informed Care providers

This isn’t optional.
It’s overdue.

When almost 200,000 people make enough noise — enough to say “we want our tax dollars, our donations, and our community support invested HERE, in our kids” — we must listen.

Politics fade away.
Arguments fade away.

What remains is our shared hope for our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and neighbors — and our determination to break generational cycles that have caused far too much harm.

That is the heart of the Collect;bles for Change Foundation™️.

 

Why We Fight

The truth is simple:
When a teenager is finally ready to ask for help, that help needs to be available.

Immediately. Compassionately. Locally.

No more waitlists.
No more hour-long drives.
No more parents told to “come back if things get worse.”

Our kids deserve better.


Transparency & Our Commitment

Collect;bles for Change Foundation, Inc. is an Indiana nonprofit organization currently awaiting IRS recognition as a 501(c)(3). Our governance, finances, and activities are guided by transparency, accountability, and a commitment to the families and youth we serve.

As we grow, our focus remains the same: strengthening access to effective, youth-centered mental health and substance use resources throughout Tippecanoe County.

Want to Get Involved?

If you’d like to volunteer, join our mission, or learn more:
📧 Email us at advocate@collectiblesforchange.org

💛 We would love to connect with you.