The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is putting $10 million behind a partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs of America to address youth mental health.
The grant will be used to implement trauma-informed practices in Boys and Girls Clubs across the U.S., including trauma-informed training for staff and piloting virtual therapy sessions for youth and staff, according to a June 22 news release.
"The United States has been grappling with a growing and alarming youth mental health crisis that demands a multi-faceted approach to provide kids with the tools they need to confront the challenges they face in school, at home and in their everyday lives," Kim Keck, BCBSA president and CEO, said in the news release.
Research from the BCBSA, published June 15, found rates of anxiety nearly doubled among adolescents from 2017 to 2021, and rates of ADHD and depression rose 50 to 60 percent.