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Youth mental health is focus of Providence and Sounders FC partnership

Published Date
Author Swedish Communications

The two organizations will work to improve mental health in local schools, starting with the Renton School District. In addition, Providence Swedish will become the official health care partner of Sounders FC, and the Providence brand will appear on team jerseys. 

Providence has entered an exciting and innovative partnership with the Seattle Sounders, a Major League Soccer franchise. As two Renton-based organizations, Providence and the Seattle Sounders FC have been looking for ways to partner to improve the health of the community. One area where we share common urgency is the mental health crisis among local youth.

Announced at a special schoolwide assembly at Renton High School, this new partnership includes a collaborative and thoughtful relationship with Renton School District, grounded in research that identifies schools as one of the most effective forums for providing consistent and accessible behavioral health services to children and adolescents. Through this relationship, Providence and Sounders FC are working hand-in-hand with district leadership to develop, implement and provide support for a variety of programming and services focused on concrete ways to improve mental health for students.

"As two Renton-based organizations, Providence and Seattle Sounders FC have been looking for ways to partner to improve the mental health of the community. One area where we share common urgency is the mental health crisis among young people. Passion for sports like soccer is a powerful way to join people together in common cause. We're excited to use this platform to help to improve access to resources for our local youth, starting with the Renton School District," said Providence President and CEO Rod Hochman, M.D.

Our plan to make a difference

The intention of the collective partnership is to address mental wellbeing for students in the Renton School District and may include items such as:

  • Increasing access to school-based mental health services for students.
  • Implementing educational programs designed to increase awareness of mental health concerns.
  • Normalizing the conversation about mental health, reducing the stigma that surrounds it, and promoting resources available through Providence, the Renton School District, and other partners.
  • Creating safe spaces for children to play.
  • Providing sports camps that incorporate mental wellbeing curricula.
  • Fostering a culture within local area schools to help every child prioritize their mental well-being and be equipped to support their peers.

Working with the Renton School District is just a start, and we hope to bring these programs to schools across the state in the near future.

During the partnership’s kickoff event at Renton High School, students, players from the Sounders, and others will take a pledge to prioritize their mental health. We encourage you to make this commitment as well, and to share this pledge link with your friends and family members.

Offering excellence in medical care

As part of this collaboration, Providence Swedish will also serve as the official health care partner for the Sounders. Physicians from Swedish Medical Group will function as the team doctors for the Sounders, providing state-of-the-art sports medicine care helping players manage acute injuries, maximize rehabilitation and training, prevent injuries, and navigate general health needs.

Where you’ll see the Providence brand

As part of the collaboration between Providence and Sounders FC, Providence is also taking over the jersey front rights for all Sounders FC home and away kits beginning this season, becoming just the third jersey partner in the club’s MLS history.

“From our earliest conversations with Providence, this partnership was always about shared values, especially our combined organizational commitment to our region’s youth and making communities healthier places to live,” said Sounders FC Majority Owner Adrian Hanauer. “In our club’s view, working with community-minded partners is critical to Sounders FC’s overall mission, and in Providence we have found a partner that is deeply vested in the Puget Sound region and whose values and goals align with our own. Today’s announcement is less about the mark that our players will wear across their chests on gameday and more about the deep community investment that Providence and Sounders FC are coming together to fulfill. Mental health – especially for young people – is a critical part of a healthy society, and we’re looking forward to employing the resources and reach of our two organizations to focus on these outcomes.”

Extending Providence’s mission into the communities we serve remains our top priority as an organization. We’re excited by the new ways in which this partnership with the Sounders and Major League Soccer can help us do that.