DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. – When a critical need for youth mental health support emerged in the community, multiple organizations rallied with a collective purpose: to ensure local children have the tools, support, and safe spaces they need to thrive.
A pivotal component of this collaboration began three years ago. Longtime community champion, Lois Wray, fulfilled a crucial need in Douglas County and stepped up, making a Boys & Girls Club location in Minden a reality by donating the building now known as the Wray Family Clubhouse. At the same time, she was the first major donor to help launch Carson Tahoe Health’s Healing Our Kids & Community clinical and preventative youth mental health mission by supporting mobile outreach with the Vehicles of Change.
“Everyone needs a safe haven where they feel truly valued. With the right tools, our youth can overcome challenges and thrive. Programs like Healing Our Kids give children the skills, confidence, and support to succeed in life,” said Wray.
These mighty seeds first planted by Wray years ago came full circle when Carson Tahoe concluded a five-week youth mental health program in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada at the Wray Family Clubhouse—demonstrating the power of a caring community coming together to drive real-life solutions.
To get ahead of the youth mental health crisis, kids need to be met where they are and shown how to navigate the challenges of modern daily life. The Vehicles of Change fleet of four mobile outreach vans reaches children throughout the quad counties of Northern Nevada, offering play-based, clinically guided skill-building, so kids can thrive no matter what life throws their way.
Programming is grounded in prevention, play, and engagement, and works directly in schools, community centers, and neighborhoods. Through themed experiences focused on Food, Play, Sound, and Art, children explore emotions, build confidence, experience mindfulness and discover healthy coping strategies to last a lifetime.
For over a month at the Wray Family Clubhouse, a group of 22 children (aged 8–9 years old) joined after school to experience hands-on activities designed to promote self-expression, strengthen coping skills, and foster supportive relationships with other kids and adults. After learning crucial life skills, including emotional awareness, resilience, and the ability to make meaningful connections, the program culminated in a graduation ceremony honoring students and giving them the opportunity to speak publicly about the impact of the tools they learned and how they could use them moving forward.
“Carson Tahoe Health’s ‘Vehicles of Change’ bring an inspiring level of energy and dedication to their work with youth. By teaching mental health concepts in fun and creative ways, they create a positive and lasting impact. It’s evident in the enthusiasm of the kids, who truly enjoy and benefit from their time with the Carson Tahoe Health team,” said Taylor Lambert, Wray Family Clubhouse site director.
Funding for the supplies and resources for this transformative session was made possible through the collective support of generous community partners, including the Mallory Foundation, Visit Lake Tahoe, and the American Century Championship. Their investment reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to youth mental health resources across Northern Nevada.
This promising work has just begun. Similar programming (first piloted in Carson City at the Boys and Girls Club last summer) is now expanding into schools and community gathering places throughout the quad counties. To positively impact as many lives as possible, all sessions are offered at no cost, and a scalable, sustainable model is also being developed so that this innovative approach can become a resource for other communities to reverse their youth mental health crisis.
When healthcare, community organizations, and philanthropy align, true healing happens.
Director of Foundation and Community at Carson Tahoe Health, Melissa Elges, said:
“Prevention is powerful. Play is connective. Community is the catalyst. The Vehicles of Change fleet brings repeated, hands-on opportunities for connection and growth, building resilience that lasts a lifetime. Together, we are creating pathways for healthier futures for our children.”
As the need for youth mental health support continues to grow, this recent collaboration demonstrates what’s possible when people and organizations unite around a common goal: helping children feel seen, supported, and empowered.
To support the ongoing work of Healing Our Kids & Community and expand programs like Vehicles of Change, visit:
https://www.healingourkids.org/donate