At the Center for Healing and Justice through Sport (CHJS), we believe that underneath the fun and camaraderie, sport can be used as a vehicle to provide creative and accessible solutions to some of society's biggest issues.
CHJS is a national nonprofit organization working to ensure that more young people and athletes have access to sport experiences that are healing-centered, inclusive, and work to address issues of systemic injustice.
Our mission is to make sport healing for all youth and athletes everywhere. We support athletes and teams through training, consulting, and collective action, as well as through innovative programs.
We believe that healing is a right for all. And through the wide appeal and accessibility of sport, we’ve found that sport is the ideal environment for justice-oriented and healing-centered philosophies. This work changes the lives of not only participating athletes, but their families, their communities, and the world at large.
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Our work is backed by neuroscience research showing that sport—the activity that has brought humans entertainment and joy for thousands of years— has both a physiological and psychological healing effect. CHJS brings trauma-informed coaching to youth through our accessible programs and services. By bringing together the knowledge and influence of sports experts, psychologists, scientists, and strategists, CHJS equips coaches with simple, practical skills and knowledge about the brain which are proven to have a therapeutic impact on athletes, students, and participants.
Through our dynamic partnership with The Neurosequential Network and NM- Sport, known for their field leading model in education, our innovative programs and initiatives are integrating sport into the healthy therapeutic web of children youth and families to help individuals and programs who believe in a new vision for sport, one centered around healing and justice.
Get To Know Our NM-Sport Partnership
CHJS is Coming to Canada (and We’re Excited)! Canada’s kids are struggling. Nearly 1.2 million experience mental health challenges, fewer than 40% get enough daily physical activity, and one-third can’t access organized sport because of cost. At the same time, competitive programs tend to favor…
Read MoreBy Megan Bartlett, Founder, Center for Healing and Justice through Sport World Mental Health Day. One day a year we pause to acknowledge what we already know: young people are struggling, resources are stretched thin, and everyone’s looking for solutions. But here’s the thing –…
Read MoreA Decade of Partnership in Action [WATCH “THE LONG GAME”] When we’re trying to make change across the city, it takes time. Change is only going to happen if you make the real investment. Today, we’re releasing “The Long Game” – what sustained partnership with…
Read MoreCollaborative Partnership Development As part of CHJS’s Collective Action strategy, we support the Coalitions for Sport Equity (CSEq) and the Sports Based Youth Development Funder Collaborative – two collective action efforts that work to address the systemic barriers keeping kids out of sport. Over the…
Read MoreA Decade of Sustained Partnerships with Parks and Recreation Systems At CHJS, we’ve always believed that Nothing Heals Like Sport – and we’ve spent the past ten years proving it works at scale. Our sustained partnerships with Parks and Recreation systems across the country show…
Read MoreJoin us for two free, virtual trainings on healing-centered coaching. Every coach wants what’s best for their athletes. But in a system that emphasizes overall performance and wins, many coaches feel stuck using outdated methods that don’t match what we now know about how young…
Read More(Updated Monday, August 18, 2025) California (yes, the whole state), October 2024– California’s changing the game in youth sports, y’all. The star player? Coaches. Today the California Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being joined forces with Susan Crown Exchange’s Million Coaches Challenge…
Read MoreResources for Chicago Parks Recreation Leaders Be the Rec Leader Your Kids Need This Summer Every moment this summer is a chance to build resilience, create connection, and help young people thrive. Whether you’re leading your first summer program or returning for another season, these…
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