Boys & Girls Club Blog

At the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh, we believe supporting youth and families takes a community-wide effort. Through the Hyde Family Community Center, we bring together local organizations that provide important resources and services to help make our community stronger.

As we recognize September as Suicide Prevention Month, we’re proud to shine a spotlight on one of our Hyde Family Community Center partners, Community for Hope. Community for Hope works to promote mental health awareness, prevent suicide and make sure community members have access to support when they need it.

Community for Hope has been a Hyde Family Community Center partner since the Center opened in spring 2024, helping bring mental health education and grief support into our community.

Meet Community for Hope

Community for Hope was created in 2001 in response to several adolescent suicides in Oshkosh. Their mission is to prevent suicide by promoting mental health awareness, reducing stigma, providing education and offering grief support and response in our community.

Community for Hope serves Winnebago County and surrounding communities, with prevention services focused on anyone who may come into contact with someone experiencing a mental health crisis.

One of their key programs is QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) training, which teaches participants how to recognize warning signs, have a conversation with someone who may be struggling and connect them with the right resources. Community for Hope has hosted QPR trainings for Club families and community members, bringing this important education directly into the community.

They also offer grief support groups for individuals who have experienced a suicide loss, including a grief support series hosted right here at the Hyde Family Community Center.

Making an Impact

The impact of Community for Hope’s work can often be seen in the moments when someone recognizes that another person needs support and knows where to turn.

Recently, a gentleman shared a story with Community for Hope about receiving a call from a distressed friend while he was at a golf outing. Several of the other golfers had participated in a QPR training offered by Community for Hope and encouraged him to utilize 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

He reached out to 988 and was able to receive guidance on where to turn for help.

Stories like this show why making mental health education accessible throughout our community matters. A person doesn’t have to be a mental health professional to make a difference. Sometimes, knowing the warning signs and where to turn for help is an important first step.

Building Connections at Hyde

The Hyde Family Community Center was created around the idea that when community organizations work together, everyone benefits. With nonprofit partners offering a variety of services under one roof, the Center creates opportunities to connect, share resources and reach people who may benefit from their services.

As one of our first partners to move into the space, Community for Hope has been part of the Hyde Family Community Center from the very beginning. Along with their offices, they’ve used the space to host QPR trainings for Club families and community members, their grief support series and board meetings.

They’re also regular participants in Walk-In Wednesdays, helping connect community members with resources and support, and joined us as a partner at National Night Out.

For Community for Hope, being a Hyde Family Community Center partner has helped increase their visibility in the community while providing a safe and welcoming environment to offer their specialized services.

And for us, that’s what makes Hyde so special. It’s more than a place to meet or host a program. It’s a place where organizations can build connections and work together to support youth, families and individuals throughout Oshkosh and Winnebago County.

“Community partners are vital to our mission, and we are grateful for the many connections we have made at the Hyde Family Community Center,” shared Sarah Danahy, Executive Director at Community for Hope.

We’re grateful to have Community for Hope as part of the Hyde Family Community Center and appreciate the important role they play in creating a community where mental health is talked about openly, people know where to turn for support and no one has to navigate difficult moments alone.

Want to learn more about Community for Hope? Visit their website or reach out to their team to learn more about QPR training, grief support groups and other resources.

Want to become a Hyde Family Community Center Partner? Contact Director Michelle Rector at micheller@bgcosh.org.