Kohl’s has announced a three-year, $10 million commitment to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to support the development and implementation of trauma-informed practices through formal and informal learning experiences for youth.

The grant will enable clubs across the country to provide trauma-informed training to club staff and scale up resources with trauma-informed strategy, which integrates programs that teach social-emotional skills and includes a comprehensive trauma-informed review of the Youth of the Year program to ensure an emotionally safe experience for youth and staff. The funding also will ensure that all qualifying Youth of the Year finalists and their mentors can travel to participate in events, while also awarding scholarships to teens awarded the state, regional, and national Youth of the Year title.

“I’m incredibly proud to continue our partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America as we expand access to safe, inclusive Club experiences and provide targeted programming to build essential trauma-informed skills needed to build great futures,” said Kohl’s CEO Michelle Gass. “Forty-five percent of all U.S. youth have experienced at least one potentially traumatic event in their lives, and those events can change the way a child understands the world, resulting in lingering fear and anxiety. Prioritizing mental health amongst our youth continues to be an important issue for both Kohl’s and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. This multiyear donation will allow the organization to reach more youth across the nation and support young people in navigating all life circumstances.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Big Cheese Photo)