By: Kari Radjewski, director of Marketing & Communications
In communities across Michigan, the mental health needs of young people are growing—and for many families, challenges like cost, access, and stigma make care difficult to reach. Two recent grants to Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Michigan (BGCSM) and SAY Detroit’s SAY Play Center show how the Children’s Foundation partners with community organizations to help remove those barriers, filling gaps in care and making services more accessible for kids and families.
Expanding access to behavioral health in Macomb County
At BGCSM’s Eastpointe Club, families often face multiple barriers to mental health care including limited access, high demand, and lack of affordable options.
With a $50,000 grant from the Foundation, the Club’s Behavioral Health program is expanding from three days per week to five, providing consistent, cost-free access to mental health care for more than 160 children ages 5-17 and their families. Services provided include:
- Individual therapy for children or parents
- Family therapy to support both youth and parents
- Group therapy and support groups
- Psychological testing to identify challenges early
The program takes a two-generational approach, providing both youth and parents with tools to address anxiety, depression, and the stressors of daily life. By funding two additional doctoral psychology doctoral students at Wayne State University, the program is now fully staffed—ensuring reliable and accessible care.
The goal is straightforward: help kids build social-emotional skills, identify challenges early, and give families strategies to support their children before problems become lifelong barriers.
Creating a culture of wellness in Detroit
At the SAY Play Center in northeast Detroit, families and staff noticed troubling trends: rising rates of anxiety, depression, aggressive behavior, and exposure to violence. In fact, 80% of participants reported being personally affected by gun violence. Yet, affordable, accessible mental health services have long been a challenge for families in this community.
A $40,000 grant from the Children’s Foundation helps support the LiveWELL program at the Detroit’s SAY Play Center, developed with Wayne State University’s School of Social Work. LiveWELL integrates mental health and wellness for 150 young people ages 8–18 into the center’s daily life through:
- Mindfulness, daily interventions, and restorative practices
- Conflict resolution and mediation to avoid peer pressure or engage in harmful activities
- Support for young people to better cope with emotional stress and problem solving
For many of these youth, LiveWELL is their first introduction to formal mental health education—helping them manage stress, navigate conflict, and build skills to thrive.
Partnering to address mental health
Some kids need a safe place to talk about their feelings. For others, it’s learning to navigate conflict, build self-esteem, or heal from trauma. By partnering with organizations like BGCSM and SAY Detroit, we help ensure that young Michiganders not only access care but also gain the tools to thrive emotionally and mentally. For these kids, the impact is felt not just now, but in the lives they will carry forward.
