United Way, HCA Virginia expand youth mental health training across Central Virginia
Everyday Strong equips coaches, educators, caregivers and community members with practical tools to support emotional well-being for young people.
August 26, 2026
More adults across Central Virginia will be trained to recognize and respond to the emotional needs of young people through the expansion of Everyday Strong, a youth mental health initiative led by United Way Greater Richmond and Petersburg with support from HCA Virginia.
Made possible through a $25,000 grant from HCA Virginia through the HCA Healthcare Foundation’s Healthier Tomorrow Fund, Everyday Strong gives coaches, educators, caregivers and other trusted adults practical, research-based tools to help young people build resilience and navigate stress, anxiety and emotional challenges. The initiative is designed for non-clinical settings, helping adults better understand how to support young people in everyday moments before challenges become crises.
Since the launch of this program, United Way has trained 1,460 adults in a regional awareness campaign.
The need is significant. According to the 2023 Virginia Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 33.4% of Virginia high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless for two or more consecutive weeks. Among Virginia high school students with mental health needs, 48% said they did not have a caring adult to talk to about their problems.
Research consistently shows that one of the strongest predictors of resilience in children is having at least one stable, committed relationship with a supportive adult. This is the foundation of Everyday Strong.
“Children build resilience through the adults around them. This funding lets us reach more of those adults with the skills and confidence to show up for the young people in their lives,” said Aliyah Karner, Healthy Community Director at United Way Greater Richmond and Petersburg.
At its original launch in direct response to community-identified needs, Everyday Strong was developed specifically for non-clinical practitioners giving everyday caregivers practical, research-based tools to support youth emotional wellness. The program operates on a Train the Trainer model with trainers housed at trusted community partners in United Way’s network, including James House, Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN), Virginia Home for Boys and Girls, and the Virginia Department of Health. The program is open to residents across all 13 localities in United Way’s service area.
“Healthcare extends far beyond the walls of a hospital,” said Ben Brown, Regional Vice President of Behavioral Health for HCA Healthcare Capital Division. “By investing in capacity-building programs like Everyday Strong, we’re helping address the conditions that influence a young person’s health and well-being long before they ever need medical care.”
HCA Virginia’s support will revive the initiative, with a goal of training more adults and directly impacting young people in the coming year. Programs like Everyday Strong are particularly vulnerable to funding shifts, and the grant provides momentum for our community to gather around this critical issue.
Email everydaystrongva@yourunitedway.org to learn more.