Millions of low-income youth in the U.S. struggle with serious mental health challenges, but the vast majority do not receive the services they need. Obstacles can include access to care, stigma, transportation, language barriers and reluctance to engage in treatment.
Reliant Foundation seeks to raise funds to support community grants for area nonprofits focused on mental health services for children and youth.
Doc Wayne: A Game-Changer for At-Risk Youth
Doc Wayne, a non-profit organization named after pediatric surgeon and sports enthusiast Dr. Eli Wayne, works with at-risk youth who have social, emotional, behavioral and mental health challenges. Their mission is to fuse sport and therapy to heal and strengthen at-risk youth. Although participants see it as merely engaging in a fun and challenging sports activity, they are in fact, participating in a group therapy session. Doc Wayne clinicians (seen as coaches) deliver Chalk Talk® group therapy at several sites – including a Framingham program which received funding from Reliant Foundation.
