PORTLAND, Maine – MaineHealth's Center for Health Improvement today announced a groundbreaking $1.6 million donation from Maine entrepreneur and impact activist David Evans Shaw to launch the SHAW Challenge, a comprehensive four-year initiative designed to transform how Maine communities address the youth mental health crisis.
As part of a larger effort to support youth mental health, Shaw provided additional funding
to the Hearts of Pine Foundation to expand after-school wellness programming, building upon Hearts’ existing soccer impact programming, as well as support to the University of New England for its Shaw Innovation Fellows Program that will create new pathways for student innovators to contribute solutions to the youth mental health crisis.The SHAW Challenge represents a bold departure from traditional crisis-response models, instead applying proven public health strategies to build mental wellness, resilience and supportive school environments across seven Maine school districts serving thousands of students.
“Maine's children are our most precious resource, and they're facing a mental health crisis that requires immediate, coordinated action,” said David Evans Shaw, founder of Black Point Group, IDEXX Laboratories and other successful organizations. “By investing in evidence-based programs through MaineHealth, grassroots community work through Hearts of Pine and empowering the next generation of innovators through the Shaw Innovation Fellows Program, we're building a comprehensive approach that strengthens mental health awareness, resilience and well-being for every young person in our schools."
Across the nation—and here in Maine—youth mental health has reached crisis levels. One in three Maine youth report feelings of persistent sadness or hopelessness, and one in five have seriously considered suicide. Youth mental health emerged as the top priority in the most recent Community Health Needs Assessment, that is used by hospital organizations to guide their investments in community well-being.
While many programs exist—such as mental health skill-building curricula and school-based counseling—schools have consistently expressed the need for a coordinated 'one-stop shop' that organizes and integrates these efforts. The SHAW Challenge answers that call.
“The SHAW Challenge represents a turning point in how we respond to this crisis,” said Dr. Dora Anne Mills, Chief Health Improvement Officer at MaineHealth. “We're taking a public health approach—not just reacting to crises, but proactively building resilience and skills, strengthening connections and improving mental wellbeing for all young people.”
Launching in January, the initiative will pursue five core goals using proven public health strategies across seven participating school districts:
- Foundational Understanding: Facilitated conversations orienting youth and families to mental wellness
- Social Infrastructure: Peer-led social connectivity, emotional health promotion and suicide prevention through the Sources of Strength program
- Protective Factors: Implementation of a School Cellphone Policy, with resources from the American Academy of Pediatrics
- Skills for Mental Health: Curricula to enhance wellbeing skills
- Capacity to Respond: Training in Mental Health First Aid to address mental health and substance use challenges
Preliminary participating school districts include:
- Wiscasset School Department (Lincoln County)
- RSU 20 - Searsport Public Schools (Waldo County)
- Brunswick School Department (Cumberland County)
- MSAD 17 - Oxford Hills School District (Oxford County)
- RSU 73 - Spruce Mountain Regional School District (Franklin County)
- Sanford School Department (York County)
- Biddeford School Department (York County)
These schools were chosen based on MaineHealth’s capacity to serve them. However, the desire is to expand this program beyond this pilot phase to other school districts that want to participate.
The initiative's strength lies in its collaborative approach, bringing together health care expertise, community engagement, student innovation and education leadership.
Hearts of Pine Foundation will expand its after-school soccer programming in elementary and/or middle schools within participating districts, creating safe, engaging spaces where young people can build connections and develop emotional, social and leadership skills through joyful, collaborative play.
“These after-school programs recognize the power that soccer has to be a tool for emotional, social, and communal development in the lives of Maine’s youth,” said Gabe Hoffman-Johnson, Founder of Portland Hearts of Pine and the Hearts of Pine Foundation. “We’ve already seen the incredible results of these programs with Rosati in Lewiston and the Soccer Project here in Portland. To be working alongside David Shaw, MaineHealth and schools across Maine, we’re thrilled to expand the ways in which we use this game for good.”
The University of New England's Shaw Innovation Fellows Program will offer internships with the SHAW Challenge, enabling student innovators to apply their creativity and skills to real-world mental health challenges.
“Innovation is at the heart of UNE's mission to improve lives and communities,” said James Herbert, Ph.D., President of the University of New England. “The Shaw Innovation Fellows will bring fresh perspectives and entrepreneurial thinking to this critical challenge, while gaining invaluable experience in applying their education to solve problems that matter deeply to Maine families.”
School leaders welcome the comprehensive, coordinated approach.
“The mental health and well-being of our students is of the utmost importance.,” said Jeremy Ray, superintendent of Biddeford School Department. “The SHAW Challenge provides our schools with invaluable resources, training, and community support to address these critical issues head-on. By fostering collaborative partnerships, we can create nurturing environments where all students have the opportunity to thrive academically, socially and emotionally. This initiative is precisely the kind of comprehensive approach our education system values to support our students.”
Beyond the seven initial districts, the SHAW Challenge will convene a statewide Shaw Youth Public Mental Health Council in December, bringing together partners from across Maine—including NAMI Maine, state agencies, Maine Youth Thriving and others—to learn from one another, communicate about this emerging field and coordinate efforts to maximize impact.
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