Avera Reaching Kids

Avera Reaching Kids (ARK) is a research initiative designed to offer protection and safety to children, so perhaps one day, no child will feel abandoned to sink or swim in the choppy waters of today's world.

ARK involves research for the future, as well as projects to help kids today. The ultimate goal is to keep well children healthy, and intervene for children who are at risk or ill in order to prevent and lessen the devastating effects of emotional-behavioral health conditions in children.

Imagine…

• A community where all children receive the emotional and behavioral support or treatment they need
• Schools where every child can be successful and is free to learn
• A community where families seek care without stigma

What is the ARK approach?

Nature or nurture? Which forms who we are and how we behave? The simple answer is both. Research indicates that genetic as well as environmental factors influence the development of behavioral health conditions. ARK seeks solutions in family-based wellness programming and genetic research.

The Avera Family Wellness Program »

The Avera Institute for Human Behavioral Genetics »