SSM Health awards community health gift to Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac to support youth mental health programs

SSM Health is proud to support the Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac through its community health giving program, awarding $30,000 to enhance social emotional learning (SEL) and mental health programming for local youth.

The Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac serves more than 1,500 youth annually through afterschool and summer programs focused on academic success, healthy lifestyles, and leadership development. Through this gift, SSM Health is helping expand access to critical mental health support for children and adolescents ages six to 18.

“Mental health remains a key priority identified in our community health improvement plan, as many families in the community face barriers accessing timely care,” according to according to Dan Hebel, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac. “The Boys & Girls Club plays an important role in bridging that gap by offering daily mental health check-ins, small group programming, and connections to additional resources in a familiar, supportive setting.”

Supporting the mental health and well-being of youth is essential to building a healthier future for our entire community, says Shane Smith, SSM Health Fond du Lac Market president. “Through this partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac, we are investing in programs that meet young people where they are – providing early support, reducing stigma, and helping them develop the skills they need to thrive.”

Social emotional learning and mental health programs at the Club are offered year-round and integrated into daily programming, reaching hundreds of youth and providing thousands of supportive interactions each year.  These efforts help build coping skills, emotional regulation, and resilience while strengthening connections between youth, families and community resources.

“This partnership with SSM Health helps us expand access to critical mental health support for the youth we serve every day,” Hebel adds. “Because our programs are offered in a welcoming, everyday environment, we are able to connect with young people in ways that reduce stigma and encourage participation, ensuring they receive the support they need to succeed.”

Together, SSM Health and the Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac are working to strengthen the community’s safety net for youth mental health – creating opportunities for early intervention, increasing access to care, and building a foundation for lifelong well-being.