During a time when the needs for positive mental health and wellness are coming more into focus, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield are proud to announce the launch of their new “Here & Now” mental health initiative. Designed to help foster positive mental, physical, and emotional skill sets, “Here & Now” is the latest of many efforts in the organization’s mission to provide safe and enriching environments for youth members, their families, and the communities that the Clubs serve.
Throughout the year, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield will be introducing several innovative “Here and Now” initiatives, including a partnership with Eliot Community Health Services that places full-time licensed clinicians on-site. Club families will have access to critical therapeutic services, and Club staff will be provided with enhanced training on Trauma Informed Care. The Clubs also plan to integrate new social and emotional learning curriculums into the after school and summer camp programs.
“For the past 50 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield have been dedicated to providing safe environments for families,” says Adam Rodgers, CEO. “With the launch of the ‘Here and Now’ initiative, we will be able to offer skilled mental health and wellness support to families, both inside the walls of our Clubs and in the streets of our communities.”
Through the “Here & Now” initiative, the Clubs will offer free Youth Mental Health First Aid certification classes to the community. These regularly scheduled classes will provide this important type of training access to any individual who seeks it. The Clubs will also offer classes and activities around mindfulness to the general public, at no cost to families.
“I applaud the Boys & Girls Clubs for its prioritization of mental and behavioral health programming with ‘Here & Now.’ This type of programming is essential as we all work to provide our children with the tools necessary to succeed in life,” said State Representative Michael Day.
Rooted in the communities of Stoneham and Wakefield and with future expansion planned into surrounding towns, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield has been continuously recognized for its health and wellness efforts and awarded a number of grants to help further the organization’s outreach and education. Recently awarded grants for program development and expansion include the federal Drug Free Communities Grant in Stoneham and funding from the Cummings Foundation. In addition to the above-mentioned initiatives, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield’s INTERFACE program is an outpatient referral Helpline that connects families with outpatient mental health and wellness resources free of charge.
“Our Clubs strive to make a lasting, positive impact on our communities. The commitment we are making with ‘Here & Now’ shows that our Clubs are invested in facing the mental health crisis head on,” says John Brinkman, COO. “We are truly grateful for the support we’ve received over the years from so many stakeholders and wouldn’t be able to do the good work we do without it,” he adds. “When people who truly care come together, great futures can be built for every individual.”
For more information on the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield 50th anniversary celebration, or any of its programs, amenities, and more visit bgcstoneham.org or bgcwakefield.org.
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About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield is a proud affiliate of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the nation’s most effective youth development organization in the United States. We are proud to work with young people from a wide range of economic, social, and family circumstances, regardless of their gender, ethnic and racial background.
Our Clubs are open when kids need us most – after school, on most school holidays, and all day during the summer. Clubs offer safe places where young people can learn, grow, and succeed.
