PAL, CNS HEALTHCARE, PONTIAC SCHOOLS, U.S. SOCCER FOUNDATION KICK OFF

SOCCER FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM FOR PONTIAC YOUTH

Program will focus on fun, mentorship, and life skills development

March 2, 2023 (Oakland County, MI) – The most critical part of a child’s day begins after the final bell rings. Soccer for Success is an after-school program that is provided at no financial cost to participants and has proven to help kids establish healthy habits and develop critical life skills through trained coach-mentors and community engagement.

Soccer for Success is more than just soccer. Thanks to the partnership support of CNS Healthcare, it will help provide deserving youth from the Pontiac and surrounding Oakland County areas with three key benefits:

HEALTHY LIVING

• Learn about eating right and other ways to stay physically healthy
• Learn to have conversations about emotions, struggles, and successes to stay mentally healthy
• Gain important decision-making and relationship skills from interactions with coach-mentors and peers

COACHING/MENTORSHIP

• Learn soccer fundamentals and team sport basics
• Build confidence and recognize the value of hard work, teamwork, and persistence in achieving personal goals
• Preparation to be engaged positive members of their community

COMMUNITY/FAMILY FOCUS

• Coach/Mentors meet with families regularly to educate parents and guardians about how to embrace an active and healthy lifestyle and nurture their child’s personal growth.
• Coach/Mentors will be trained in recognizing the signs of mental health disorders in kids and how to support all kids emotional and mental health.
• Local mental health resources will be provided to all families.

The Soccer for Success league is free, co-ed and offered to all Pontiac and Oakland County area 3^rd through 5^th grade boys and girls. The league utilizes evidence-based curriculum prepared by the U.S. Soccer Foundation. Teams will have weekly practice and Saturday league games. Uniforms and equipment will be provided. Practices begin the week of April 10^th and games will be held on Saturdays at the brand new field of Pontiac High School, 1051 Arlene Avenue. The Spring season ends with a community celebration on May 20^th.

“CNS is proud to partner with Oakland County Sheriff PAL program to enhance the healthy physical and mental learning experience for staff, students, and their families,” says CNS Healthcare President & CEO Michael Garrett. “We appreciate the opportunity to strengthen our communities through partnerships that recognize the value of and effectively incorporate mental health.”

Sheriff PAL celebrates CNS Healthcare’s partnership and the opportunity and access it helps provide to deserving local youth and families of the Pontiac and surrounding Oakland County area through relationships and recreation. Click here to learn more about SOCCER FOR SUCCESS or the U.S. SOCCER FOUNDATION.

About The Sheriff PAL (Police Athletic League) of Oakland County

The Sheriff PAL of Oakland County was founded in 2015 by Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard with a mission of creating a safe environment and structure where law enforcement and community partners help empower young people to reach their full potential through athletics, mentoring and other enrichment. PAL’s goal is to offer year-round programming for Oakland County area youth at no financial cost to them. The program has provided opportunities for over 1,500 youth to be impacted in 2022 by basketball, cheer/dance/tumbling, lacrosse, soccer. baseball/softball, tee-ball, yoga, and mentoring. Sheriff PAL collaborates with various community groups, organizations, and individuals to help build programs that offer youth mentoring, fitness, enrichment, and educational trips throughout Southeast Michigan. This program is made possible through the generous financial support of various businesses and organizations such as the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Legacy Funds, Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation, and others. To learn more about Sheriff PAL and available coaching or volunteer opportunities, visit our WEBSITE and FB PAGE. .

About CNS Healthcare

CNS Healthcare is a leading, private, non-profit provider of comprehensive, integrated behavioral and physical health services and substance use disorder services in Southeast Michigan. Established in 2002, CNS Healthcare focuses on being the community connection to wellness through assessment, case management, psychiatric, therapy, peer support and recovery services. As a federally designated Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), CNS Healthcare provides expanded access to treatments and supports to uninsured, underinsured, and historically underserved populations throughout the community. With locations in Detroit, Eastpointe, Novi, Pontiac, Southfield, and Waterford, CNS Healthcare employs over 450 dedicated professionals, paraprofessionals and support staff who deliver compassionate care to more than 7,000 adults, youth (age 0 to 17), and their families, annually. www.CNSHealthcare.org