Health First Donates $104K Wellness Grant to Support Brevard Public Schools’ Reading Program

‘We Want to Beat the Crisis’: Student Resilience Gets a Boost in Brevard

Health First donates a $104K Wellness Grant to support Brevard Public Schools’ reading program, to provide the skills kids need to overcome life’s challenges.

ROCKLEDGE, FLORIDA — A coffee bean can be a powerful thing.

So says the book, “The Coffee Bean” by Jon Gordon and Damon West, which sixth-graders across the county are reading in class, part of Brevard Public Schools’ (BPS) “Resiliency Reads” initiative.

It’s a story of a teenager who learns, through the lens of a coffee bean, that wherever life takes him, there is an unstoppable power within him to face and overcome adversity.

“It taught me to be a positive person,” said Marilyn Smith, a sixth-grader at Mims Elementary. “Always show kindness to others. Don’t let your environment impact you.”

The carrot and the egg, Marilyn explained, let the environment impact them when placed, let’s say, in hot water. The coffee bean doesn’t budge—it changes the environment, clouding the water—not itself. Other students also added that the coffee bean “will change its environment to be a better place.”

That’s the message the program seeks to deliver – when you’re handed a situation in life that’s tough, you have the strength to power through.

On Oct. 20, Gordon spoke at the King Center in Melbourne, where over 1,500 6th-grade students enthusiastically joined him live, while other sixth-grade classes throughout the district tuned in remotely.

Resiliency Reads was launched by Brevard Public Schools, with support from the Brevard Schools Foundation and Health First, this year’s title sponsor. It aims to foster resilience in students by introducing them to stories of overcoming adversity, promoting mental wellness, and encouraging open conversations about challenges young people face.

Health First’s Wellness Grant will contribute $104,000 to the program. The year before, the health care and wellness system donated $50,000 to the cause.

“Supporting Resiliency Reads is one way we can extend our mission — to improve the health and wellness of the communities we serve — beyond our hospitals and into classrooms, giving students the mindset and confidence to face challenges and build healthier futures,” shared Chris Kern, System Vice President, Philanthropy, at Health First.

The program is tied to a district-wide effort to promote positive school culture, mental wellness, and student empowerment. It is tied to two grade-specific books for sixth- and ninth-graders, and provides academically aligned models and strategies to help students build resilience and a healthier mindset.

It is designed to give students the tools they need to positively impact their long-term outlooks. Through classroom discussions, interactive activities and journaling, students are learning how to:

■ Build resilience when faced with challenges
■ Lead with kindness and empathy
■ Take ownership of their actions and mindset

“The Coffee Bean initiative empowers our students to turn obstacles into opportunities and shape their own success — even in difficult situations,” said Dr. Mark Rendell, Brevard Public Schools superintendent.

“We are proud to partner with Health First to bring this life-changing program to our classrooms and give every child the tools to thrive.”

Charissa Reynolds, behavioral care manager with Health First, said there is a pressing need when it comes to youngsters’ mental health. More students are exhibiting signs of anxiety and struggling with regulating their emotions.

“They’re having a lack of coping skills,” Reynolds said.

But it’s not just about academics. Students with family struggles, financial issues, and peer pressure are feeling it at home and while at school.

Having mental health education, such as the coping skills taught in the Resiliency Reads curriculum.

“It’s so productive because it allows students to not only build resilience, but gain these overall coping skills,” Reynolds said. “Because we don’t want to just wait until a student has a crisis. We want to beat the crisis.”

Community Impact

Resiliency Reads aligns with the voices and needs expressed in the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). The survey of Brevard residents, conducted every three years, identifies gaps in the community.

Brevard Public Schools collected data indicating that many students lacked the skills to overcome and face adversity in healthy and meaningful ways.

While Resiliency Reads is not directly tied to the CHNA, the 2025 report demonstrates the needs in the community and how Resiliency Reads can assist:

■ Situation: 29% of Brevard County adults report a high score on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), demonstrating they had more than four adverse experiences before turning 18. These include household substance abuse, parental separation/divorce, and household mental illness.

Program help: Resiliency Reads teaches coping skills through literature and discussion—tools that equip students to process trauma and build resilience.

■ Situation: Food insecurity affects 34.4% of Brevard residents. Not having enough to eat can affect emotional development and school performance.

Program help: Resiliency Reads provides support and an outlet for students in this situation.

■ Situation: In Brevard, 29.6% of residents report being unable to cover the cost of a $400 emergency expense.

Program help: Resiliency Reads teaches tools for emotional regulation and resilience when facing financial hardship.

By working together, Health First and Brevard Public Schools are building a better Space Coast – and providing children with the tools they need today and in the future, not only academically but emotionally.

“When we invest in the resilience of our students, we’re investing in the strength of our entire community,” Kern said.

“Health First is proud to partner with Brevard Public Schools to help ensure every child has the tools they need to grow, thrive, and succeed, right here at home.”

Reynolds echoed Kern’s sentiment: this program offers lifetime benefits.

“It allows them to be better parents or better community leaders,” Reynolds said of tomorrow’s leaders.

“It allows them to be better friends, better coworkers overall. I think that by investing in our kids now and investing in our students in building this resiliency, it’s going to help our community in the long run.”

For more information on Wellness Grants and other ways Health First gives back to the community, visit hf.org/giving-back.

Similar Stories