For over 60 years, Boys & Girls Clubs have done whatever it takes to meet the needs of young people and their families. We are unwavering in our commitment to the next generation of youth and putting them on the path to Great Futures.

Especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of youth with psychiatric disorders and mental health challenges has increased. Children and adolescents who exhibit signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, trauma, impulse and control disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders, psychosis, and neurological disorders can be supported by protective factors, such as consistent healthcare, healthy relationships, effective skills, and controlled environments. BGCSNV strives to provide these supports for our members and their families in order to strengthen our community in Clark County.

https://scholarworks.unr.edu/handle/11714/8328 (From 2021 Nevada High School State Report)

Notes for a Successful School Year

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN THE CLUB

Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada is pleased to introduce the Creative Solutions for Positive Youth Development team in 2023 to provide a variety of services for our members and their families within the clubs. Services include:

• Social emotional learning programming
• Group psychoeducation
• Group psychotherapy
• Individual therapy
• Family therapy
• Case consultation
• Case management

THE MENTAL HEALTH TEAM

Creative Solutions for Positive Youth Development mental health team is comprised of a multidisciplinary team, including licensed psychologists, licensed social workers, licensed counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, and licensed interns, as well as master’s level and bachelor’s level student interns. BGCSNV & Creative Solutions is invested in our community’s future and committed to training the next generation of healthcare providers.

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING & GROUP THERAPY

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is a framework designed to develop skills in the following areas: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. SEL group therapy topics will include mindfulness, self-esteem, conflict resolution, problem solving, assertive communication, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and resilience. Groups are facilitated by mental health team members, group participants will be determined by Clubhouse staff and Creative Solutions for Positive Youth Development team members, and groups will occur once a week, for the duration of the trimester. Families will consent to their children attending group therapy and receive the group curriculum prior to the first group session. SEL group therapy topics will include:

• Mindfulness
• Self-esteem
• Conflict resolution
• Problem solving
• Assertive communication
• Distress tolerance
• Emotion regulation
• Resilience

INDIVIDUAL & FAMILY THERAPY

• Members, families, teachers, mentors, outside therapists, and clubhouse staff members will refer members to services as needed.
• Members and families will be assigned to an appropriate therapist, who will conduct intake assessments, create comprehensive and individualized treatment plans, facilitate weekly individual and family therapy sessions in the clubs, and consult with club staff and outside providers as needed.
• Services will be low to no cost for members and their families through billing insurance, both Medicaid and commercial insurances, donations, and grant funding.

INTERVENTIONS

We use a combination of evidence-based mental and behavioral health strategies in addition to supplemental methods to treat our members, including, but not limited to:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Art therapy
• Music therapy
• Play therapy
• Animal-assisted therapy.

STAFF TRAINING

Training staff to interact with our members through a trauma-informed lens is one of our top priorities. BGCSNV’s mental health department and outside agencies including Child Help Partnership, Pact Coalition, and SAFY offer foundational mental and behavioral health trainings to all positions within our agency.

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS RESOURCES

Service Request

Caregiver Resources

Health Advisory Adolescent Social Media Use

US Surgeon General’s Mental Health Advisory for Youth

PARTNERSHIPS