A new impact report, More than a grant: A partnership to advance youth mental health and well-being, shows how The Cigna Group Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of America are expanding trauma-informed support for young people, offering employers a practical model for building partnerships with nonprofits at scale.
At a glance
- Watch the video: Voices of Impact: Improving youth mental health
- Key takeaway: Training, youth-informed resources, and employee volunteering are extending support through local Clubs.
- Download the impact report: More than a grant: A partnership to advance youth mental health and well-being
Building support where young people feel safe
Young people need support where they already feel safe. That is why The Cigna Group Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of America are working together to bring more practical mental health resources into local Clubs.
The work is part of The Cigna Group Foundation’s multi-year commitment to youth mental health and builds on Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s trusted national network. Each year, more than four million young people turn to local Clubs to learn, spend time with peers, and connect with caring adults.
Key insights from the partnership
- Reach young people through trusted community settings. Local Clubs give the partnership a nationwide platform for practical, consistent support.
- Equip both young people and caring adults. Youth-informed resources work alongside trauma-informed training for Club staff.
- Extend impact through employees. Hands-on and skills-based volunteering helps Clubs build capacity and connects employees with their communities.
Watch the video above to learn how The Cigna Group Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of America are working together to advance youth mental health and create supportive environments where young people can thrive.
“If I could describe Boys & Girls Clubs in three words, it would be happiness, support, and home,” said Jayla, a youth member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Illinois. “To know that someone dedicates their time to find a way to help you and help your needs, that makes you feel so seen.”
Turning partnership into measurable impact
Creating meaningful change takes more than a single program or resource. Through this partnership, The Cigna Group Foundation is helping Boys & Girls Clubs of America to advance youth mental health by listening to young people, equipping adult staff with culturally responsive and trauma-informed practices, and fostering stronger connections between Clubs, communities, and employee volunteers.
“The future of trauma-informed practices looks like every organization embedding these practices into daily operations – it looks like young people leaving our spaces with healthier relationships, stronger coping skills, and the support they need to thrive,” said Rachel Kalukango-Harris, director of trauma-informed practice at Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together, and our goal is to go far with our impact, and The Cigna Group Foundation has been able to do that with us.”
How employers can make a difference: A model for community and workforce impact
The report offers a practical employer model for sustained community impact: combine long-term funding with trusted local expertise, input from the people being served, and clear measures of progress. Employers can add value beyond funding by contributing employee time and skills, helping nonprofits build capacity, and creating meaningful ways for employees to support the communities where they live and work.
“When two organizations come together around a shared purpose, it allows us to create a platform that reaches thousands of kids,” said Josh Michelson, executive vice president and chief strategy and innovation officer at The Cigna Group and member of the board of directors of Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago. “Our partnership is at a national level to create infrastructure, tools, access, and support. But it’s also about bringing yourself to a Club to be there with the kids and show them that an adult cares about them.”
Youth mental health is also a workplace issue. Many employees are parents or caregivers, and when a young person struggles, the effects can reach the whole family. On average, working parents of a child with mental health needs spend 7.7 hours per week managing their child’s needs. They also report that up to four workdays per month are disrupted by starting late, leaving early, or missing days to tend to activities related to their child’s mental health. Trusted community support can help young people access caring relationships, resources, and opportunities while potentially reducing some of the pressures that caregivers may experience impacting their attendance, productivity, and well-being at work.
Read the full PDF report
Read The Cigna Group Foundation’s More than a grant: A partnership to advance youth mental health and well-being.
Frequently asked questions
Since 2024, the organizations have combined funding, evidence-based resources, trauma-informed staff training, and employee volunteerism to expand trauma-informed support through local Clubs.
The partnership has supported the expansion of trauma-informed training experiences, tested resources with teens, and engaged employees in volunteer activities that strengthen local Club communities.
It equips Club professionals with evidence-informed tools, training, and support to help create environments where young people feel safe, connected, and ready to learn while strengthening staff capacity to recognize and respond to the effects of stress, adversity, and trauma.
The Teen Mental Health Guide supports age-appropriate conversations and activities. The Behavioral Support Toolkit equips Clubs with strategies to promote safe, positive, and consistent behavior support. The Regulation Station Guide provides guidance for creating supportive spaces where youth and teens can self-regulate and build coping skills. The resources were piloted in 11 Clubs and shared at national and regional conferences, with national rollout underway.
Employees support local Clubs through hands-on and skills-based projects, including assembling mental health curriculum boxes and wellness kits, building bikes, hosting community events, and packing STEAM kits for Clubs in rural areas.
The initiative is part of The Cigna Group Foundation’s broader investment in healthier, stronger communities. Through grants, partnerships, and employee volunteerism, the Foundation helps connect young people – and the adults that support them – with mental health resources and care.
Many employees are parents or caregivers, and when a young person needs support, the effects can reach the whole family. On average, working parents of a child with mental health challenges spend 7.7 hours per week managing their child’s needs. They also report that up to four workdays per month are disrupted by starting late, leaving early, or missing days to tend to activities related to their child’s mental health.
Employers can support local community partnerships and nonprofit organizations that focus on youth mental health. Employers can add value beyond funding by contributing employee time and skills, helping nonprofits build capacity, and creating meaningful ways for employees to support the communities where they live and work.
More than a grant: A partnership to advance youth mental health and well-being offers practical lessons for other employers building partnerships with nonprofits at scale. Successful partnerships combine long-term funding with trusted organizations that bring deep expertise, strong local relationships, established infrastructure, community input, and clear measures of progress.