Youth Sports Foster Positive Mental Health

Advisory Board Tackles Most Pressing Needs of Youth Through Sports

FLEMINGTON, NJ, UNITED STATES, July 23, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — United Way of Hunterdon County is proud to announce the formation of the nation’s first Youth Mental Health & Sports Advisory Board, a groundbreaking initiative uniting experts, coaches, and youth voices to transform the future of youth well-being through the power of play.

The United in Play initiative, already recognized for eliminating financial barriers and providing free mental health resources to youth and families, now takes a bold step forward. The new advisory board will guide national best practices for integrating mental health support into sports programs across all levels, ensuring all children—regardless of background—can access the benefits of play, growth, and thriving mental health.

“Every child deserves the chance to play, grow, and thrive—on and off the field or court,” said Jennifer Thompson, social worker and CEO of United Way of Hunterdon County. “We are living in the middle of a youth mental health crisis, and it’s time for bold, collective action. By bringing together leading minds in mental health, youth sports, and lived experience, our advisory board will pioneer a new era where coaches are equipped, families are supported, and no child is left behind. We’re not just responding to a crisis—we’re building hope, resilience, and opportunity for every young person in America.”

Key Facts:
* 1 in 5 youth experience a mental health challenge, yet therapy and support remain out of reach for many.
* United in Play partners with recreational and club programs to provide access to sports and equipment for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families.
* United Way of Hunterdon County provides trauma-informed training and certification for youth sports coaches. Programs are available in-person and online.

Youth Mental Health & Sports Advisory Board Members include:
* Dr. Marlon Grey, Founder EmpowerU
* George Mercado, HBA Director and Coach
* Cheryl Kuster, Nonprofit Leader & Youth Sports Advocate
* Todd Spidare, Owner Fyzical and Club Pilates
* Eric Eisenhart, Managing Partner, Pro-Activity
* Mathew Walker, Director of Football, DVRR Jr. Terriers, Coach
* Pat Spencer, LCSW, Owner, Getting Your Mind in Gear
* Lacy Phelps, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
* Kevin Graeves, HBA Coach & Youth Sports Trainer
* Scott Koral, Sports Reporter
* Mitchele Drulis, Owner of Evolution Gym
* Jacque Beason, Parent of Youth Athlete & Retired NFL Cheerleader
* Kelly Denti, Owner, Nex Level Ninja

The new advisory board includes national youth representatives, mental health professionals, sports leaders, and community advocates. Together, they will shape policy, drive awareness, and champion innovative solutions at a national level.

About United Way of Hunterdon County:
United Way of Hunterdon County is dedicated to building thriving communities by advancing financial security, youth opportunities, and health for all. Through United in Play and other programs, the organization leads the way in addressing the urgent needs of today’s families and youth.

For more information, to sign your team or league up for training, partnership opportunities, or to join the movement, visit: https://www.uwhunterdon.org/unitedinplay

Jennifer Thompson
United way
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EL CENTRO — The Imperial County Behavioral Health Services (ICBHS) Youth and Young Adult Program is stepping up its outreach efforts for young people between the ages of 14 and 25, with a presence in high schools, middle schools, libraries, and local community events. The initiative offers support for anxiety, depression, and stress, while also educating students on social media pressures and mental health resources.

Lucia Mejia, Community Service Worker for the program, spoke with Imperial Valley Press about the team’s mission to support local youth.

“A lot of anxiety, depression, and stress—that’s mainly what I see from our youth,” Mejia said. “We’re in a lot of high schools and we get to interact with the kids. I do tell them all the time, just because you see it on Instagram or Facebook doesn’t mean it’s real. Remember, you guys, there are filters over there, that whenever you come in person, there’s no filter.”

Adding to the mental health challenges, Mejia said social media distorts kids’ self-image.

“I think a lot of our youth and young adults are going off of what they see on social media, but in reality, we all have imperfections,” Mejia continued. “I think they’re trying to keep up with something that has been fixed or altered to look nice.”

She highlighted a personal example: “So even for us adults as well, it can have its pros and cons. So I can give an example. I have a 14-year-old and he’s like, ‘oh, mom, look at this yacht,’ or ‘this TikToker has this many cars and all this.’ And I’m like, hey, ‘they’re showing you that they have it, but in reality, maybe they owe it. Maybe they just rented it for that video. Maybe it’s not even theirs.’”

Several lawsuits have been filed in California recently in an effort to protect minors from the negative effects of social media. CA AB 2273, also known as the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, is a law designed to enhance online protections for children. It requires businesses providing online services, products, or features likely to be accessed by children to prioritize their safety and well-being over commercial interests.

In January 2025, San Diego county officials filed a lawsuit against social media platforms, including Meta and Tiktok, claiming the apps cause digital addiction among youth

Beyond image distortion, Mejia and the Youth Program staff are warning students and parents about hidden risks in social media and online games, particularly those with chat functions that can expose minors to predators.

Reducing stigma around mental health

Despite the risks, social media has opened the door to more open conversations around mental health.

“Before, when we were younger, it was rarely talked about having anxiety and depression. And I think now our youth and our young adults are being more open,” Mejia said.

The Program’s Community Service Worker encourages parents to stay engaged in their kids’ lives through activities and communication.

“Keep them in sports, any sports, any activities,” she said. “Keep them busy with the gym, playing any sports, anything with music lessons, anything that they really enjoy and they’re not being forced to do, something that they enjoy.”

Mejia said keeping an open line of communication between parents and their children is paramount. She admits it can be difficult with work schedules and responsibilities, but parents need to make time with their children.

“Because a lot of the time, a lot of parents are, ‘oh, I’m busy,’ or ‘oh, tell me later,’ or ‘I’m very busy with this and that,’ and that’s where they shift and go somewhere else,” Mejia said. “I think we as parents, just by showing and being supportive and being there for our kids and listening, will have that trust or confidence to come to us and explain, and I mean, what better for us as parents than to give our own children the right advice, right?”

Therapy without parental consent

For youth hesitant to talk to parents or those experiencing issues at home, the law allows for confidential access to therapy starting at age 12.

“Minor consent is by law; anyone that’s 12 and up and mature enough, they can go ahead and start treatment with us,” Mejia said. “They do not need a parent with them.”

Mejia explained that during school hours, no insurance or parental signature is required.

“So for school hours, we don’t ask for insurance. We don’t ask for parent signatures, no address or anything. We don’t contact home or parents,” she said. “So they can go ahead and get minor consent and get therapy only. There’s no medication because they’re underage, but we work with them with therapy.”

Mejia also explained that they do not report or share information from sessions with parents unless the child is at risk of harm.

Special services for at-risk youth

The Youth Program is divided into two branches: general anxiety and depression, and Full Service Partnership (FSP), which serves high-risk populations such as unsheltered youth and those on probation or recently released from juvenile hall.

The program is divided into two sections—anxiety and depression, and FSP.

“FSP clients, the ones that fall in FSP are either unsheltered or they are in probation or they’re coming from a juvenile hall. So those—the FSP clients—are a little bit more delicate; they’re in a little bit tougher situation. So for those clients, we do provide transportation,” she said.

The ICBHS will pick up and drop off the client at their residence. The program also offers tangible incentives for FSP participants.

“If they are in that program, FSP, we have contracts with some gyms here in the county. So we pay for the gym membership. We pay for music lessons or music classes,” she said. In addition, they also offer equine therapy.

“We cover everything, all the expenses, as long as the clients are consistent,” Mejia stated. “They have to be coming and being consistent with their therapies so that way we can go ahead and cover for that.”

Connecting to other services

Mejia said ICBHS also helps clients connect to other county-run wellness or addiction programs.

“For example, there’s anxiety and depression—someone that has anxiety and depression and they started, I don’t know, smoking weed or drinking; we do have a program for substance use disorder that we would do linkage with,” she said.

Those wishing to enroll in services outside school hours can contact the ICBHS for more information and appointments.

CHARLESTON, W.Va (WDTV) – Attorney General JB McCuskey has joined a letter urging the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) to restore female athletes’ records that he says were wrongfully erased by male competitors.

McCuskey joins 20 other Attorney Generals in supporting the letter led by Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch.

In the letter, the Coalition urges the NCAA to restore to female athletes the records, titles, awards and recognitions that they rightfully deserve.

The Attorney General claims these accolades were denied because of policies that allow biological males to compete in female categories.

“Biological men should have never been allowed to compete against biological women in the first place,” Attorney General McCuskey said. “But thankfully, we are starting to see the country and our policies turn back to a place where women’s rights matter. Restoring these records to these women is the least schools can do to return what was stolen from them. This is the right thing to do.”

The announcement Tuesday is in line with McCuskey’s ongoing focus on women’s sports and transgender athletes.

McCuskey and the Coalition go on to say, “The NCAA should take this step for former athletes to preserve the integrity of Title IX and show your support for women harmed by years of bad policy.”

West Virginia has passed the ‘Save Women’s Sports Act,’ which provides that girls’ sports teams based on “competitive skill” should not be open to biological males.

Just last month, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case against a transgender athlete from Bridgeport High School.

The case involves a challenge to the West Virginia’s ‘Save Women’s Sports Act,’ which McCuskey says protects biological female athletes by keeping sports competitive and safe for women and girls.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear that case during its October 2025 term.

If you would like to read the Coalition’s letter, you can find it here.

Prior coverage:

• UPDATE: Supreme Court to hear case against transgender Bridgeport athlete

Copyright 2025 WDTV. All rights reserved.

Maryland Athletics raised more than $33 million through the Terrapin Club in the 2024-25 fiscal year, its highest mark since 2021-22. That figure includes more than $18 million in cash, the highest mark in recent history and a key metric as college athletics heads into the new revenue-share era. 

More than 8,900 donors invested in Maryland Athletics through the Terrapin Club this year, the most since 2011, and a 26% increase from the previous year, the highest single-year jump in the past 25 years. This number also represents the fourth consecutive year of growth in this area. 

“These results are not only a testament to our community and their dedication to Maryland Athletics, but they also illustrate the collective impact Terps supporters can have on student-athletes, programs and the department,” said Kirby Mills, Senior Associate Athletics Director and Chief Development Officer. “However, this is only the start of our work. This coming year, and in years to come, we have lofty aspirations that can only be accomplished together.”

Areas of focus for the 2025-26 year and beyond include increasing unrestricted support that can provide flexibility toward revenue-share expenses and additional scholarships for student-athletes, continuing to upgrade facilities through Maryland Athletics’ Building Champions campaign, cultivating the future of Maryland Athletics support through the launch of a “next generation” program and growth of the Student Terrapin Club, building endowment support across all areas of the enterprise, including student-athlete scholarships, coaching positions and sport programs, and fostering a culture of volunteerism and advocacy across the University of Maryland community.

The Victory Circle, Maryland Athletics’ leadership giving society for those who invest $50,000 or more, added or renewed 61 members this year, the most since the society was formed in 2019 and a 27% year-over-year increase from last year. This year’s efforts pushed the total Victory Circle membership to more than 230. 

Nearly 30 endowments were established this year to fund student-athlete scholarships across numerous sports and provide consistent support for our student-athlete priorities, including mental health resources and international travel opportunities. 
A group of Maryland Football letterwinners who played during the Jerry Claiborne Era of 1972-81, led by Jonathan Claiborne, Kyle Lorton and Bob Schwartz, raised $300,000 to fund a football scholarship in memory of Coach Claiborne. 

The Building Champions campaign, a comprehensive effort to provide Maryland Athletics top-notch facilities across all its sports, reached a number of milestones this year, including the opening of the Stanley Bobb Baseball Performance Center and the Maryland Softball Performance Center. Progress continues on the Barry P. Gossett Basketball Performance Center, which is slated to open before the start of the 2025-26 men’s and women’s basketball seasons. 

It was our honor to hold today’s Stanley Bobb Baseball Performance Center dedication

We want to thank the Bobb family for their amazing and gracious support of Maryland Baseball pic.twitter.com/77qwW1RytX

— Maryland Baseball (@TerpsBaseball) May 15, 2025

The community once again stepped up on Giving Day as nearly 700 individuals gave more than $600,000 toward supporting Maryland Athletics, which finished in the top three in total dollars and top four in total donors among all campus units in a record-breaking year for the annual campus-wide campaign. 

All gifts to Maryland Athletics through the University of Maryland College Park Foundation count toward Terrapin Club giving level and accrue Terpoints, including the recently introduced per seat model for football and men’s basketball season tickets. Click here to make a gift to Maryland Athletics through the Terrapin Club or go to umterps.com to learn more about how philanthropy can make a difference for Maryland’s 500-plus student-athletes and 20 varsity programs.