UPMC Health Plan, Community Care Behavioral Health
Organization Expand Youth Mental Health Clubs to Build
Future Behavioral Health Workforce
Contact:
Denise Hughes
UPMC Health Plan
Phone: 412-983-3836
Email: Hughesdr2@upmc.edu
Gloria Kreps
UPMC Public Relations
Phone: 412-417-2582
Email: Krepsga@upmc.edu
Harrisburg, PA (Jan. 28, 2026) —As Pennsylvania continues to face critical shortages in behavioral health professionals, UPMC Health Plan and Community Care Behavioral Health Organization (CCBH) are advancing early workforce development by engaging youth through mental health clubs across the Commonwealth. By investing in student leadership, behavioral health advocacy and career exploration, the organizations are working to build a sustainable pipeline of future behavioral health professionals and strengthen mental health support in schools and communities.
Programs like Aevidum—a nonprofit founded by students to promote mental health and suicide prevention—are central to this effort. Aevidum, which means “I’ve got your back”, empowers young people to foster a culture of care, connection and advocacy within their schools. With chapters nationwide in elementary schools, middle and high schools, as well as colleges, Aevidum provides hands-on leadership opportunities that build empathy, communication, and peer support.
Now in its third year, the collaboration between CCBH and Aevidum introduces students to behavioral health professionals in engaging, youth-centered ways. As part of this work, the Elevate Your Future workshop—developed by a team from the UPMC Center for High-Value Health Care, CCBH and Aevidum—will be held at the Aevidum Conference on Jan. 29 at the Spooky Nook Sports Complex near Lancaster, Pa. The workshop will connect students with counselors, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists and other behavioral health experts, allowing them to know how the skills they develop through youth mental health clubs can translate into careers. Participants will practice communication, empathy, and collaboration; explore career pathways; and reflect on how their strengths and interests can align with behavioral health professions.
“This work is about inspiring young people to help grow Pennsylvania’s behavioral health workforce,” said Matthew Hurford, MD, President and CEO of CCBH and Vice President of Behavioral Health for the UPMC Insurance Services Division. “By connecting students early with real professionals and real career pathways, we’re supporting efforts to address workforce shortages while building a pipeline grounded in purpose, community and long-term impact.”
The youth-focused workforce development approach complements broader UPMC Health Plan career readiness initiatives, including Pathways to Work, which supports students and young adults in exploring health care careers through education, exposure and hands-on learning. Together, these efforts reflect UPMC Health Plan’s commitment to building sustainable talent pipelines while addressing critical workforce needs across Pennsylvania.
“Aevidum started with students taking care of one another, and that spirit is still at the heart of everything we do,” said Francesca Pileggi, Executive Director of Aevidum. “When young people realize that the skills they use every day—listening, supporting peers, speaking up—are the same skills needed in behavioral health careers, it validates their leadership and shows them they already belong in this field.”
The workshop and related youth engagement efforts are supported in part with funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), through the GRACE Project (Growing Resilience in Adolescents and Children). This is a grant-funded consortium focused on enhancing behavioral health prevention, treatment, and recovery services for children and adolescents in Columbia, Montour, Snyder, Union, Northumberland and Schuylkill counties. It also aims to strengthen the capacity of providers, paraprofessionals and community members to support youth with behavioral health needs while building lasting community partnerships. In the past two years, the GRACE Project has expanded the number of active youth mental health clubs to over 50 across the six counties, offering students leadership opportunities and hands-on experience in behavioral health advocacy.
# # #
Funding Acknowledgment
This event is supported in part by an award from HRSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
About UPMC Insurance Services
The UPMC Insurance Services Division serves more than 4.1 million members and is owned and operated by UPMC, a world-renowned health care provider and insurer in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The UPMC Insurance Services Division provides commercial products through UPMC Health Plan for both groups and individuals. Its commercial products also include workers' compensation and employee assistance from nationally known Workpartners®. Government products include Medicare Advantage plans (UPMC for Life); special needs plans for those who are eligible for Medicare and Medical Assistance (UPMC for Life Complete Care and UPMC Community HealthChoices); a Medical Assistance plan (UPMC for You); and Children's Health Insurance Program plans (UPMC for Kids). Community Care Behavioral Health Organization—one of the nation's largest nonprofit managed care behavioral health organizations—is also part of the Insurance Services Division. For more information, visit upmchealthplan.com.