MESA for Teens
Supporting our youth
Mejorando la Salud de los Adolescentes (MESA) is a collaborative project, made possible by a grant from the Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative (EHDI). MESA engages the community in reducing the gap between non-Latino and Latino teen pregnancy rates and HIV/STIs in Rice County. MESA partners with Growing Up Healthy, Northfield Healthy Community Initiative, and Rice County Family Services Collaborative to provide the Teen Outreach Program (TOP) and the Comadres/Compadres Pregnancy Prevention Program.
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MESA is made possible by a grant from the Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative (EHDI) of the Minnesota Department of Health’s Center for Health Equity.
MESA Programming
MESA offers a number of programs to the local teen community to provide wellness education and empower teens to make choices about their health and futures. Below are some of our support programs and school based clubs.
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To learn more about any of these programs, email Wendy Sara at sara.wendy@healthfindersmn.org, or call 574.323.8173.
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MESA CLUB – FARIBAULT MIDDLE SCHOOL
A program teaching values, sense of purpose, and community service. Occurs during Community School Programming for 2025-2026 school year.
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When: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 3:00–4:30 p.m.
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Where: Faribault Middle School
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MESA CLUB – NORTHFIELD MIDDLE SCHOOL
A program teaching values, sense of purpose, and community service. Occurs during Community School Programming for 2025-2026 school year.
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When: Tuesdays 3:00–4:30 p.m.
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Where: Northfield Middle School
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MESA CLUB – FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL
A program teaching values, sense of purpose, and community service. Occurs during Community School Programming for 2025-2026 school year.
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When: Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:00–4:30 p.m.
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Where: Faribault High School
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MENTORING – FARIBAULT HIGH SCHOOL
MESA staff are available to support high school students make connections and connect to resources through this drop-in program.
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When: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00–12:00 p.m.
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Where: Room B-100
Teen Health Services
We offer free, confidential, and youth-friendly Teen Services available to all teens across Rice and Steele Counties. Our goal is to reduce barriers and provide comprehensive care that promotes healthy adolescent development.
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Services include:​​
Sexual and reproductive health education
Free pregnancy and STI testing (including Chlamydia and Gonnerhea)
Birth control options (pills, implants like Nexplanon, IUDs)
Emergency Contraception
Expedited partner treatment
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Mental Health Support:
Counseling and social skills development
Psychoeducation and mindfulness techniques
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We work closely with local public health departments and partnering agencies to support and enhance teen health services region wide.
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Teen Physical and Sexual Health Services
Common physical health services at the Teen Clinic include:​
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Information on and answers to questions about sex and sexual health
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Free, confidential pregnancy testing
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Free, confidential sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing
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Birth control, such as birth control pills, birth control implants (Nexplanon) and intrauterine devices (IUD)
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Emergency contraception, including Plan B, or the morning-after pill
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Expedited partner treatment
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Faribault School Health Center
Dental Clinics are open for all students and families in the district. The school-based health center is open to all Faribault students in grades 9-12. To learn more, visit the School Health Center page.
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Teen Mental Health Services
Providing mental health services to Rice County youth to increase the acceptance that mental health is an equally important part of health and healthy adolescent development. Mental health support at the Teen Clinic includes:
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Counseling
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Social skills
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Psychoeducation
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Mindfulness techniques
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The Teen Clinic is available virtually for Rice County youth on Mondays, from 2–4 p.m. Add us on Snapchat (hfc_teenclinic) to receive reminders and updates. For more information, call 507.646.8964.
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RICE COUNTY CHLAMYDIA PROJECT
The Rice County Chlamydia Project provides free and confidential Chlamydia and Gonorrhea testing – right in our office. Call us at 507.323.8100 to schedule an appointment.