Ty Richardson, Interim President & CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce; Vivian Demille, COO of Henderson Behavioral Health; Shari Thomas, Director of Youth & Family at Henderson Behavioral Health; Jennifer Becker, Chief Operating Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County; Terry Frank, Vice Chair of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County Board of Directors Executive Committee; Teri Fuentes, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County board member and\u00a0Senior Vice President and Producer at Lockton Companies; and Janna Lhoto, Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Board Chair<\/p>\n
Award was presented at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Healthcare Awards ceremony<\/p>\n
October 6, 2026 \u2014\u00a0The partnership between Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County (BBBS Broward) and Henderson Behavioral Health (HBH) was named the Community Catalyst at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Healthcare Awards. Also at the awards ceremony, Dr. Steven Ronik, Chief Executive Officer of HBH, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.<\/p>\n
Building on the success of its\u00a0Little Steps, Big Strides\u00a0program,\u00a0BBBS Broward\u00a0launched a transformational new partnership with HBH in March 2026. It is designed to strengthen overall wellness for youth, families, mentors and staff across the organization.<\/p>\n
The collaboration brings together two long-standing community nonprofits to create a comprehensive, long-term wellness initiative that equips young people with healthy coping skills to navigate major life challenges and everyday stressors including anxiety, depression, bullying, cyberbullying, academic pressures, navigating college applications, identity-related stress, suicidal ideation and family challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 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\u2019ve already seen a significant positive impact on how participants cope with and overcome challenges and stressors,\u201d said Malena Mendez, President & CEO of\u00a0BBBS Broward. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
HBH clinicians provide individual and group wellness sessions, home visits when appropriate, quarterly training sessions for\u00a0BBBS Broward\u00a0staff that provide an orientation to the services HBH clinicians provide, how to identify common mental health warning signs and being mindful of cultural humility. Quarterly engagement and education sessions with Bigs and parents\/guardians include identifying common mental health warning signs and how to communicate with children. These efforts help participants recognize early warning signs of distress and respond with compassion, understanding and care.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d said Dr. Steven Ronik. \u201cAs long-time Trustee members of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, we are so grateful to be recognized for this partnership.\u201d<\/p>\n
With generous support from founding supporter, the Farris Foundation, the Little Steps, Big Strides initiative is integrated into\u00a0BBBS Broward\u2019s curriculum across all programs and is expected to expand as additional community partners and supporters join the effort.<\/p>\n
A dedicated wellness room called Beth\u2019s Zen Den at\u00a0BBBS Broward\u2019s Fort Lauderdale office serves as a central hub for in-person counseling sessions with masters-level licensed clinical therapists, evaluations and staff support. The thoughtfully designed space is named in honor of philanthropist, former Big and current\u00a0BBBS Broward\u00a0board member Beth Linzner, whose leadership support made it possible to create a beautiful, private and serene environment where meaningful counseling sessions can take root and thrive. Depending on an individual\u2019s needs, circumstances or preferences, sessions may also take place virtually or in their home.<\/p>\n
The initiative also reflects a growing need for culturally responsive wellness services, particularly for youth who may feel unsafe discussing personal challenges at home or within their communities. With clinicians as part of\u00a0BBBS Broward\u2019s existing framework, the program is designed to reduce stigma while empowering mentors and families with practical tools to support young people more effectively.<\/p>\n
While mentoring alone has been shown to improve graduation rates, college enrollment and reduce risky behaviors,\u00a0BBBS Broward\u00a0leaders emphasize that mentors are not clinicians. This partnership ensures professional wellness support is readily available when needs extend beyond the mentoring relationship.<\/p>\n
Ninety-one percent of Littles reported feeling a strong sense of belonging among their peers and feeling listened to when they bring worries or problems to their Bigs. Seventy-seven percent say they are doing better in school because of their Big, 90% say their Big makes them feel better about themselves and 94% are confident they will achieve their goals.<\/p>\n
These outcomes demonstrate that wellness and achievement are not separate. A student who feels supported is more likely to believe in themselves, engage in school and envision a successful future. The community must recognize that student wellness is not an add-on to education. It is part of the foundation for success. When young people are surrounded with caring adults, professional resources and opportunities to grow, they\u2019re given the confidence, resilience and tools to succeed today and build brighter futures.<\/p>\n
Since the collaboration between\u00a0BBBS Broward\u00a0and HBH began in March, so far 10 families have received services at no cost to participants. Initial funding allows the program to support at least 240 youth annually, so this program has plenty of room for growth to provide counseling to additional Littles, Bigs, families and\u00a0BBBS Broward\u00a0staff including match specialists who routinely navigate complex and sometimes traumatic situations involving youth and families.<\/p>\n
A Story of Impact<\/p>\n
One of the first Littles who\u00a0BBBS Broward\u00a0referred to Henderson Behavioral Health was only 13 years old when she gave birth to her first child earlier this year. The Little and her family have since benefited from counseling services that are helping them navigate this major life change. The girl\u2019s mother shared that the experience was very positive and provided valuable support during a difficult time. The mother also sought counseling for herself, recognizing the importance of caring for her own well-being so she could continue supporting her daughter.<\/p>\n
This life-changing experience was initially a shock for her family and Big Sister, but became a journey filled with love, growth and resilience. Now 14, she is learning how to balance being a teenager while also caring for her baby, all with the support of people who believe in her.<\/p>\n
In addition to the support she receives from her mom, her Big Sister plays a large role in her life. Even after her Big relocated to Washington, D.C., she remained committed to their match. The two remain connected through phone calls and text messages almost daily. When she found out her Little had unexpectedly given birth, she immediately booked a flight to Florida so she could be there to support her. That gesture showed her Little that she was not alone and that someone truly cares about her and her future. The Big regularly checks in, offers encouragement and remains present through both the joys and challenges that come with growing up and becoming a young mother. The Little\u2019s mother often shares how grateful she is for the positive impact her daughter\u2019s Big has had.<\/p>\n
The Little\u2019s mother is also a big source of support throughout this journey. HBH helped the mother process her own emotions when she heard the pregnancy news and overcome feeling overwhelmed. Additionally, HBH assisted her in dealing with the judgement and difficult comments from others. Despite the challenges, the mother chose to focus on supporting her daughter rather than dwelling on the past and has continued to show her daughter unconditional love, encouragement and guidance every step of the way.<\/p>\n
The mother is incredibly proud of how her daughter has stepped up as a young, attentive and caring mom, while continuing to focus on her freshman year of high school. Although the transition to motherhood has not been easy, she has shown determination, responsibility and a willingness to keep moving forward.<\/p>\n
Today, the Little\u2019s story is not defined by the challenges she experienced at such a young age. Instead, it is a story of perseverance, support and hope. With a loving mother, a dedicated Big Sister and access to resources from\u00a0BBBS Broward\u2019s collaboration with HBH, the Little is building a bright future for herself and her baby. Her journey is a reminder of how much of a difference caring adults and a strong support system can make in the life of a young person.<\/p>\n
To find out about all of\u00a0Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County\u2019s programs, visit\u00a0bbbsbroward.org<\/a>, and go to\u00a0hendersonbh.org<\/a>\u00a0to learn more about the services Henderson Behavioral Health offers.<\/p>\n About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County<\/p>\n For more than 50 years,\u00a0Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County (BBBS Broward)\u00a0has empowered young people to achieve their full potential through life-changing mentoring relationships. By connecting youth with caring adult mentors and providing access to critical resources and support services, BBBS Broward helps build self-confidence, foster emotional well-being, encourage academic success and prepare young people for bright and productive futures.<\/p>\n Guided by its mission to\u00a0ignite the power and promise of youth, BBBS Broward continues to be recognized as a leader within the mentoring field. The organization received\u00a0Big Brothers Big Sisters of America\u2019s 2025 Growth Award\u00a0in recognition of its excellence in programming and significant year-over-year growth in the number of mentoring matches served.<\/p>\n In 2026, BBBS Broward and\u00a0Henderson Behavioral Health\u00a0were named the\u00a0Community Catalyst\u00a0at the\u00a0Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Healthcare Awards\u00a0for their innovative wellness counseling partnership within the\u00a0Little Steps, Big Strides\u00a0program. This collaborative initiative expands access to\u00a0wellbeing support\u00a0for youth and families, helping participants build resilience and thrive both personally and academically.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ty Richardson, Interim President & CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce; Vivian Demille, COO of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":421158,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[249,251,250],"class_list":["post-421157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-fort-lauderdale","tag-fort-lauderdale","tag-fort-lauderdale-headlines","tag-fort-lauderdale-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/421157","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=421157"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/421157\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/421158"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=421157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=421157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=421157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}