Theodros Talks: Getting Things Done!

🏅 Coaches Care Act Adopted by NCHSAA in Unanimous 17-0 Vote

Friends,

This week marked an important step forward for student mental health in North Carolina.

On Thursday, we held a press conference at the North Carolina General Assembly to highlight the adoption of the Coaches Care Act by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association following the Board of Directors’ unanimous 17-0 vote earlier this week.

I was proud to stand alongside April Simpkins, a powerful mental health advocate from Charlotte who has worked tirelessly to elevate conversations surrounding mental health. We were also grateful to have members of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of North Carolina (NAMI NC) in attendance to support this important initiative and continue advocating for stronger mental health resources across our state.

This initiative began last year through Senate Bill 550, legislation I introduced to help strengthen mental health awareness and support systems within school athletics. Since then, our office has worked alongside partners at the Department of Public Instruction, educators, advocates, and athletic leaders to help move this effort forward.

This week, the NCHSAA Board of Directors officially adopted this proposal for head coaches across North Carolina. The Coaches Care Act is designed to ensure that head coaches receive training focused on student mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and recognizing warning signs that a student may be struggling. The initiative helps equip coaches with the tools to respond appropriately, have supportive conversations, and connect students with the resources they may need.

Coaches play an incredibly important role in the lives of young people. For many students, a coach is not just someone leading practices or calling plays. They are a mentor, a trusted adult, and often among the first people to notice when something is wrong.

Mental health challenges facing young people today are real, and they cannot be ignored. Supporting students means supporting the whole student, both on and off the field.

I am deeply grateful to the NCHSAA Board of Directors for their leadership and for recognizing the importance of this effort through their unanimous vote. I also want to thank April Simpkins, NAMI NC, the Department of Public Instruction, and all of the advocates and stakeholders who helped make this moment possible.

You can watch the full press conference below to hear more about the Coaches Care Act, the importance of student mental health support, and the collaborative effort that helped make this initiative a reality.

While this is an important achievement, our work does not stop here. We must continue expanding access to mental health resources and building environments where every student feels seen, supported, and valued.

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📣 Community Town Hall

I will be hosting an upcoming town hall to share updates from the General Assembly and hear directly from you about the issues that matter most in our community.

🗓️ Thursday, May 14th at 6:30 PM
📍 Arts+ Community Campus- 2304 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC 28205
🔗 RSVP here: LINK

I hope you can join me for this conversation.

Thank you for allowing me to continue advocating for Mecklenburg County and for students across North Carolina.

Yours in service,

Caleb Theodros
State Senator, District 41