Steamboat Springs, Colo. (Sept. 6, 2018) – UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center, in partnership with the Craig-Scheckman Family Foundation, today announced a five-year, $1.375 million commitment to support mental and behavioral health resources in Routt County schools.
As it did in 2016 and 2017, Yampa Valley Medical Center will donate $100,000 to the Steamboat Springs School District and $25,000 each to the Hayden and South Routt School Districts, for a total donation of $150,000. While this year’s donation will come from YVMC, funds for the next four years’ donations, continuing at $150,000 per year, will come from UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center Foundation, thanks to funds the Foundation received from UCHealth when the two organizations partnered in September 2017.
“UCHealth’s mission is to improve lives, be it in big ways through learning, healing and discovery, or in small, personal ways through human connection. By making this commitment to children in our communities, we feel we can do just that,” said Frank May, chief executive officer of Yampa Valley Medical Center. “We know that math, science and reading are core to any education, but we’ve learned that kids also need resources to support the mental and behavioral health aspects of an education. Our hope is these funds can fill the need for additional counselors and provide the means to help students live extraordinary lives.”
The Craig-Scheckman Family Foundation (CSFF) has committed $125,000 for each of the next five years.
“For many years, CSFF, through its Youth Advocacy Project, has supported area schools by providing funding for student and sometimes family counseling beginning in the elementary schools as a preventative measure, all the way through high school where sometimes the needs are greatest,” said Sara Craig-Scheckman, executive director of CSFF. “Through strategic collaboration with YVMC and other community partners and increased understanding of specific school counseling needs, this initiative stands to measurably improve youth outcomes while at the same time, improving support of the school counseling staff throughout the districts.”
“As a school district, we are more aware of our social-emotional health needs of students, families and staff. Over the past two years, the funds from YVMC have allowed our district to have trained mental health therapists available to provide therapeutic services for our students and families in need,” said Brad Meeks, Steamboat Springs School District superintendent. “Thanks to YVMC and CSFF, these services will continue to grow as we are becoming more aware of the importance of mental health and early intervention. It’s our goal to have full-time, trained mental health therapists available at each of our schools as well as maintaining mental health training for our employees.”
About the Craig-Scheckman Family Foundation
Through engaged community partnerships, the Craig-Scheckman Family Foundation endeavors to champion the underserved with respect to increased quality of life, wellness and opportunities for improved equitable access to services by addressing complex social and economic issues throughout Routt County. The mission of CSFF’s Youth Advocacy Project is to work collectively with its partners throughout the community to improve the lives of Routt County youth with multiple risk factors, youth who have special needs and/or youth who experience socio-economic marginalization.