During Community Insights, we explored what it takes to support youth well-being in meaningful ways in and across our programs. We kicked things off with a panel featuring Carl Jackman, LMSW, SIFI, Assistant Director of Wellness Support at The Opportunity Network and Melissa A. Hunte, LMSW-SIFI, Social Work Manager at "I Have a Dream" Foundation, and young people, who shared their perspectives on what well-being looks and feels like in practice.  

Here's what we heard from the panel:

• Make well-being part of everyday practice: Build in regular check-ins, opportunities for reflection, and spaces to talk about mental and emotional health, not only when a young person is struggling

• Create consistent, caring relationships: Young people benefit from adults who listen, show up consistently, and create spaces where they feel known and supported. Peer relationships and community connections matter too

• Partner with families: Families play an important role in supporting well-being. Meeting families where they are and giving them tools they can use at home can extend this work beyond program spaces

• Listen and respond to what young people need: Surveys, conversations, and other feedback can help organizations understand what young people are experiencing and what supports are needed

• Recognize the whole person: A young person can be doing well academically or professionally and still need support with their well-being

• Help young people build self-awareness and skills: From navigating stress to thinking about social media use, young people can develop strategies for recognizing what they need and making choices that support their well-being

Here's what we heard in discussion groups:

The Challenges

• Young people’s needs are constantly changing. What worked one year may not work the next.

• Building trust takes time and young people may be hesitant to share difficult experiences, particularly when they have felt dismissed or not taken seriously.

• There are limits to what individual organizations can provide.Stronger referral pathways and collaboration across community organizations can help create a broader support ecosystem.

• Access and stigma are barriers. Young people may not know what resources are available or may feel uncomfortable seeking support because of cultural expectations or social norms around asking for help.

Resources and Approaches

• Staff and intern training grounded in trauma-informed practice

• Wellness days and other low-barrier ways to destigmatize mental health conversations

• Workshops that give staff and young people language for talking about well-being

• Family workshops and resources that help families support young people at home

• Crisis-response protocols and flowcharts that clarify when and how staff should connect young people to additional support

• Surveys and other feedback to understand young people's needs

• Partnerships with community organizations to connect young people and families to additional resources

• The Steve Fund and digital wellness curricula 

A key takeaway: Supporting well-being goes beyond one program or intervention. It's about creating environments, relationships, support systems, and experiences that help young people feel supported, connected, capable, and equipped to navigate a difficult world.