BCBSA Will Invest $10M to Address Youth Mental Health Crisis

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) has partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to address the youth mental health crisis by increasing access to trauma-informed care.

“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, president and chief executive officer of BCBSA, said in the press release.

“Between 5,000 Clubs across the country and the Blues’ deep roots in every Zip code, together we are uniquely positioned to intervene early, get kids the help they need, and set them on the path for the future they deserve.”

BCBSA plans to invest more than $10 million in the collaboration over four years. The funding will help Boys & Girls Clubs of America introduce trauma-informed approaches to train over 48,000 staff members and improve mental healthcare for more than 3.6 million children.

Specifically, the partnership will help expand regional trauma-informed training centers and allow Clubs to increase staff awareness and skills through trauma-informed professional development. The funding will also support creating and implementing resources to integrate trauma-informed strategies at Clubs.

Children and teenagers will be able to access resources that improve social-emotional development skills and provide them with the tools to navigate challenging experiences, according to the press release. Additionally, the BCBSA investment will support virtual therapy sessions for both youth and staff.

The funds will also be used to evaluate the Clubs’ trauma-informed approaches to drive quality improvement.

“Providing physical and emotional safety for our young people is fundamental to everything we do in Boys & Girls Clubs,” said Jim Clark, president and chief executive officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

“We know every child and teen is better equipped to succeed when we meet them where they are to address their needs, and that includes providing access to reliable mental health resources and support. Through our partnership with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, we’re eager to expand our trauma-informed work in Clubs and deepen their capacity to serve as safe places for youth across the nation.”

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the mental health crisis, and trauma, isolation, and other societal factors continue to impact youth mental health. According to HHS, almost half of adolescents have had a mental health disorder at one point in time.

BCBSA data also shows that diagnosed rates of anxiety, depression, and ADHD among teenagers aged 13 to 18 have grown between 2017 and 2021. The mental health crisis also raises health equity concerns, as Black and Hispanic youth with mental health conditions are more likely to have adverse outcomes than White adolescents.