Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

---

Organization Name: Solihten Institute
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 7887 East Belleview Avenue, Ste 1100
City: Denver
State: CO
Postal Code: 80111
Main Phone: 3036370144
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://solihten.org/
Employer ID Number: 31-0951606
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)3

Proposal Information

---

Today’s Date: 3/25/2026
Requested Amount: 3000

Project Title: Meeting Youth Where They Are: Contemporary Play, Tech & Gaming Strategies for Clinicians
Project Description:

Across the country, children and adolescents are navigating unprecedented shifts in how they play, communicate, and cope—shifts driven by digital environments, online gaming, and technology‑mediated social interaction. These changes are contributing to rising anxiety, depression, and social disconnection among youth, while many clinicians report feeling underprepared to engage young people in developmentally aligned, culturally responsive ways. To address this national gap, Solihten Institute seeks to create "Meeting Youth Where They Are: Contemporary Play, Tech & Gaming Strategies for Clinicians," a comprehensive training program designed to equip child‑ and youth‑serving mental health professionals with the skills needed to support today’s young clients effectively.
Grounded in Solihten’s mission to inspire, educate, connect, and equip professionals who integrate mind, body, spirit, and community, the project emphasizes rigorous curriculum development and high‑quality instructional design. Led by youth‑specialist psychologist Gina M. Pasquale, PsyD, Solihten will enhance and expand a three‑module training that integrates contemporary play‑based strategies, tech‑informed and gaming‑aware engagement techniques, and developmental and cultural considerations essential for today’s youth mental health landscape. Each module will be built to national continuing education standards (APA and NBCC), supported by extensive faculty preparation, evidence‑informed content creation, and professional recording for broad, long‑term accessibility.
Once finalized, the training will be delivered live and recorded for nationwide reach, enabling clinicians across diverse geographic, socioeconomic, and practice settings—including schools, community programs, and nonprofit agencies—to access specialized instruction that is often unavailable locally.
By strengthening the clinical workforce with relevant, practical, and nationally scalable training, this project enhances the quality of mental health care available to thousands of young people. It empowers clinicians to engage youth authentically, improve therapeutic connection, and respond effectively to digital‑related stressors—all while advancing Solihten’s vision of communities where all people are understood, supported, and affirmed in their pursuit of healing and wholeness.

Total Project Budget: 15000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Private foundations and individual donors

Project Duration: one year
Geographical Area Served: national
Age Group To Be Served: children and youth serving clinicians

Contact Information

---

Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Caitlin
Contact Last Name: Donley
Contact Title: Director of Development
Contact Phone: 7206789063
Contact Email: caitlind@solihten.org