Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County and Henderson Behavioral Health receive Community Catalyst Award for youth wellness partnership

Broward County, Florida – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County and Henderson Behavioral Health have received the Community Catalyst Award for their joint efforts to improve mental health and wellness services for young people, families, mentors, and staff across Broward County.

The two nonprofit organizations were recognized during the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Healthcare Awards, which celebrated their partnership and its work to provide professional behavioral health support within an established youth mentoring program.

The ceremony also recognized Dr. Steven Ronik, Chief Executive Officer of Henderson Behavioral Health, with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Community Catalyst Award comes just months after the organizations launched their partnership in March 2026. The collaboration builds on Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County’s existing Little Steps, Big Strides initiative, which focuses on supporting the overall well-being of young people participating in its programs.

The partnership was created to address a wide range of emotional and behavioral challenges that can affect children and teenagers.

These include anxiety, depression, bullying, cyberbullying, academic pressure, difficulties with college applications, identity-related concerns, family problems, and suicidal thoughts.

Rather than limiting support to traditional mentoring relationships, the initiative brings trained behavioral health professionals directly into the organization’s existing services.

The goal is to help young people develop healthy ways to manage stress while making additional support available to their families, mentors, and the employees who work with them.

Malena Mendez, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County, said the collaboration has already produced encouraging results during its first six months.

“In the six months since Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County joined forces with Henderson Behavioral Health to provide wellness services and counseling sessions to our Bigs, Littles, families and staff, I’ve already seen a significant positive impact on how participants cope with and overcome challenges and stressors,” said Malena Mendez, President & CEO of BBBS Broward. “We are only just beginning, and I look forward to helping many more youth and adults within our program. I am grateful for our partnership with the professionals at Henderson Behavioral Health and that the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce has recognized the significance of our collaboration.”

Under the agreement, Henderson Behavioral Health clinicians provide individual and group wellness sessions, along with home visits when appropriate.

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The services are designed to respond to different personal circumstances, recognizing that participants may have varying levels of comfort when discussing sensitive issues.

Some individuals may prefer meeting with a professional in person, while others may benefit from virtual appointments or sessions conducted at home.

The program also places considerable attention on education and early intervention.

Henderson Behavioral Health professionals conduct quarterly training sessions for Big Brothers Big Sisters staff. These sessions explain the available clinical services, teach employees how to recognize common mental health warning signs, and emphasize the importance of cultural humility when working with individuals from different backgrounds.

Mentors, known as Bigs, and parents or guardians also participate in quarterly educational and engagement sessions.

These meetings focus on identifying possible signs of emotional distress and improving communication with children who may be experiencing personal difficulties.

By providing this training, the organizations hope to help adults respond with greater understanding when young people begin showing signs that they need additional support.

The initiative also addresses an important distinction between mentoring and professional mental health care.

Although mentoring relationships can help children build confidence, improve educational outcomes, and avoid risky behavior, mentors are not trained clinicians.

The partnership allows Big Brothers Big Sisters to continue providing personal guidance while making professional behavioral health services available when a child’s needs go beyond what a mentor can reasonably provide.

This approach is particularly important for young people who may hesitate to discuss emotional struggles with relatives or others in their communities.

By including clinicians within the existing mentoring structure, the organizations aim to make conversations about mental health more comfortable and reduce the stigma that sometimes prevents individuals from seeking assistance.

A major part of the initiative is Beth’s Zen Den, a dedicated wellness room at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County office in Fort Lauderdale.

The space provides a private and peaceful setting for counseling sessions, evaluations, and staff support.

Licensed clinical therapists with master’s-level qualifications use the room to meet with participants who need professional assistance.

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Beth’s Zen Den was named in recognition of Beth Linzner, a philanthropist, former Big, and current board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County.

Her leadership and support helped make the counseling space possible.

The room serves as a central location for wellness services, although the program continues to offer virtual sessions and home visits when those options better meet individual needs.

Financial support has also played an important role in bringing the partnership together.

The Farris Foundation, a founding supporter of the Little Steps, Big Strides initiative, has helped fund the program’s development and expansion.

The initiative is now integrated into the curriculum across all Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County programs, with plans to expand further as additional community organizations and supporters become involved.

Dr. Steven Ronik expressed appreciation for the recognition and acknowledged the supporters who helped establish the collaboration.

“We are so pleased to share the Community Catalyst award with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and we are grateful to the Farris Foundation and Beth Linzner, who support both of our organizations and who generously provided funding for our collaboration,” said Dr. Steven Ronik. “As long-time Trustee members of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, we are so grateful to be recognized for this partnership.”

The organizations also pointed to positive feedback from young people participating in Big Brothers Big Sisters programs.

According to reported participant results, 91% of Littles said they feel a strong sense of belonging among their peers and believe their Bigs listen when they share worries or problems.

Another 77% reported doing better in school because of their mentoring relationships.

Meanwhile, 90% said their Big helps them feel better about themselves, and 94% expressed confidence that they will achieve their goals.

These figures highlight the importance participants place on the personal connections developed through mentoring.

The new partnership seeks to strengthen those relationships by adding access to professional wellness services and practical emotional support.

For both organizations, the Community Catalyst Award recognizes an effort to connect mentoring and behavioral health care within a broader support system.

As the Little Steps, Big Strides initiative continues developing, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County and Henderson Behavioral Health plan to build on their collaboration and extend its services to more young people and adults throughout their programs.