Monique Lewis, the Partnership Manager for Positive Coaching Alliance, submitted testimony in support of bill H.B. No. 142, which aims to increase emotional health awareness programs in Maryland schools. She emphasized that sports can promote wellness and social-emotional development in youth while also providing mentorship opportunities. While coaches should not diagnose mental illness, schools should educate and empower coaches to recognize potential problems and refer students to experts. Positive Coaching Alliance's programs teach stress management and building up teammates, and could help destigmatize mental health issues in Maryland schools.

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February 10, 2016
H.B. No. 142 – Education- Health and Safety- Emotional Health Awareness Programs
Testimony for General Assembly of Maryland
To the Ways and Means Committee Members-
My name is Monique Lewis and I am the Partnership Manager for the D.C./Mid- Atlantic region of Positive
Coaching Alliance (PCA). PCA is a national non- profit focused on educating and training Coaches, Athletes,
Parents, and Leaders on how to create a positive sports culture. Since 1998, PCA has impacted more than
7.5 million youth, partnered with over 3,000 youth sports organizations, schools, districts, athletic
conferences, and parks and rec departments, and delivered 13,000+ live workshops and hundreds of
thousands of online courses. In Maryland, we have established Partnerships with Mount St. Mary’s
University, Prince George’s County Public Schools, Cecil County Public Schools, Frederick Douglass High
School (Baltimore City), and many other private schools.
It is well- documented that engaging in sport and physical activities, plays a significant role in promoting
health and wellness among children and adolescents. Not only does such activity help improve the physical
fitness and health of children and youth, but it is also an integral strategy in education for total youth
development to include social and emotional development. Sports also provide valuable opportunities for
children and youth to engage in positive relationships with adults, thereby making it possible for youth to
receive valuable life lessons and create unbreakable bonds with coaches, teammates, and opponents when
participating. PCA supports this philosophy every day with our mission to develop Better Athletes, Better
People!
I am submitting this testimony in support of HB 142, not only as a representative of Positive Coaching
Alliance, but also as a former NCAA Division I student-athlete who competed in Maryland at Suitland High
School and Coppin State University. Sport has had a profound impact on my life both personally and
professionally. I am especially qualified to speak on behalf of student-athletes and advocate for more
awareness of the unique challenges they face. I would like to emphasize that it is not the role of coaches to
diagnose mental illness. However, I strongly recommend that Maryland schools have a plan that educates
and empowers coaches to combat mental illness by recognizing potential problems and engaging in an
effective referral system to experts who will address potential crisis situations. Under the right conditions,
sport can provide healthy alternatives to deviant behavior such as drug abuse, bullying, violence, and crime.
Furthermore, sports can be used as a tool to teach young people how to manage stress and anxiety.
Our work at Positive Coaching Alliance is highly customizable, and emphasizes core principles such as
“Filling Emotional Tanks” and “Making Teammates Better”. In partnership with the other organizations
presented in this bill, I am confident that we can de-stigmatize mental health issues and become leaders
across the country while providing support and education to the residents of Maryland. Thank you for your
time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Monique S. Lewis
Partnership Manager- D.C./Mid- Atlantic Region
For more Resources, visit: www.PCADevZone.org
For more information on Positive Coaching Alliance, visit: www.PositiveCoach.org
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