Tanner Steffler Foundation named official Jack.org chapter to strengthen youth mental health support
- Alex Hunt
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
In a move that puts youth voices at the forefront, the Tanner Steffler Foundation (TSF) has joined the national Jack.org network, a collaboration aimed at empowering young people across Huron and Perth counties.
“This affiliation will give us additional support because they will be able to provide some funding to help run our programming,” said Oliva Allen, fund development and community engagement coordinator at the Tanner Steffler Foundation.
“This will allow us to enhance the support we provide for youth on their mental health; it’s an opportunity to give our organization some legitimacy.”
The Tanner Steffler Foundation (TSF) is a youth-focused organization based in Clinton,dedicated to improving mental health and wellness support for young people across Huron and Perth Counties.
The foundation offers drop-in programs, creative activities, and community events that help youth build connections, confidence, and a sense of belonging. Through education, outreach, and partnerships with organizations like Jack.org, TSF works to reduce stigma, promote open conversations about mental health, and ensure youth have access to the resources and support they need.
“It’s also great to have a nationwide resource to partner with us and it helps to have their name backed up behind us when we fundraise for an event, “said Lexi Harney, youth co-lead at the foundation.
“They chose us out of the numerous different resources, and they chose us and we are happy to be a part of it.”
Harney said that to be selected as part of Jack.org, an organization must be youth-led and demonstrate a strong commitment to improving mental health in their communities and actively give back through programs and outreach.
At the TSF, all youth involved are volunteers who play an essential role in organizing and supporting events throughout the year.
“We have a lot of great resources. I think the bigger issue is that there’s so much stigma around it,” said Allen.
“That’s been affecting the youth’s ability to access care whether it be financial, transportation. There’s a stigma that says that they should be strong enough to handle everything on their own.”
Allen explained that open conversations about mental health can make a powerful difference, helping others feel less isolated in their struggles. She added that hearing people share their own experiences can inspire others to take the first step toward getting help.
“The community needs to be willing to learn and expand its knowledge,” Harney remarked.
“We can’t break down stigma without proper education on the topic. We’d love for more people to reach out, ask questions, and show a willingness to learn. That's the biggest step toward real change.”
That’s one of the primary goals for youth programming as well is Building connections is one of the primary goals for youth programming. TSF offers a lot of different youth programming, and there is usually a good turnout.
Allen said that Dungeons & Dragons has become the foundation’s most popular complement to the foundation’s programming.
The organization also hosts dice-making workshops, Magic: The Gathering nights, slime-making activities, and dodgeball games all designed to create a fun, inclusive space where young people can connect and build confidence.
Allen said mental health challenges among youth have noticeably increased since the pandemic. Many young people spent long periods in isolation, she noted, which limited their opportunities to build social skills and life experiences during critical developmental years.
“We have to meet youth where they’re at; we can’t force them to learn and grow,” Allen said.
“They know what they need, and our job is to provide the resources and support. It’s amazing to see the growth of youth who really struggle when they first walk through our doors. Week after week, they come back, start to come out of their shells, and show just how far they’ve come.”
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