When the Cougs community shows up for kids, we don’t ask busy families or mentors to carve out hours we all don’t have. We focus on consistency. Short, repeatable touchpoints—paired with caring relationships—stack into momentum that young people can feel. With National Stress Awareness Day this week, it’s a good time to share how Cougs 4 Kids is approaching calm and connection through small wins—and where you can see how we measure progress. See how we measure impact.
What we mean by “small wins” and “belonging.”
“Small wins” are brief, achievable steps taken consistently; research on the progress principle shows that frequent progress boosts motivation and positive emotion. “Belonging” is the felt experience of acceptance, support, and connection in a group. National health guidance underscores that strong social connection is protective for mental and physical health. Put simply: when people feel connected and experience regular progress, stress becomes more manageable and communities get stronger. Harvard Business Review
Why short, consistent sessions help lower stress.
There’s a growing body of evidence that brief practices make a real difference. A systematic review and meta‑analysis of micro‑breaks found that short resets during demanding tasks improve well‑being and reduce fatigue—evidence that even modest pauses matter for our bodies and minds. In 2024, researchers from the Universities of Bath and Southampton reported that just 10 minutes of daily mindfulness can improve well‑being and reduce depression and anxiety symptoms, while nudging healthier sleep and exercise habits. In other words, short and consistent beats long and sporadic when the goal is lowering stress and building capacity to engage.
What the data says about belonging at Cougs 4 Kids.
Cougs 4 Kids is a Believe in Me program serving Washington youth through mentorship, leadership workshops, and youth‑led community projects. Because impact matters, we evaluate our work on a regular cadence and publish what we can. Our approach uses participant surveys and interviews, mentor observations, and program metrics reviewed by our team (and external evaluators when needed). We track indicators like growth in leadership and confidence, mentor effectiveness, community engagement and project success, program satisfaction, and retention and continued participation. Participants often highlight mentorship and a sense of community as the most impactful parts of their experience. Evaluations occur quarterly, with comprehensive annual reviews. You can explore our methods and FAQs here: How We Measure Impact.
Why we emphasize short, consistent touchpoints.
Our programs include workshops, hands‑on leadership clinics, and youth‑led projects. Within that structure, the principle remains the same: keep engagement accessible, predictable, and frequent. Short touchpoints fit into real schedules—at schools, community sites, and on campus—and lower the barrier to participation. They also give mentors and youth more “first steps,” which multiplies opportunities to notice progress. In the language of small wins, every repeatable success (a check‑in completed, a goal clarified, a next step owned) becomes emotional fuel for the next effort. Learn more about our model on How Cougs 4 Kids Works.
Ideas you can try during National Stress Awareness Day.
To mark the observance, here are evidence‑aligned micro‑practices you can use at home, at a partner site, or with your team. Pick one or two, and keep them consistent:
One‑word check‑in: Go around the circle with one word describing how you’re arriving, then a quick reflection from the facilitator or host.
Five‑breath reset: Inhale slowly through the nose, exhale longer through the mouth; repeat five times. Invite people to notice what changed.
Gratitude trio: In pairs, each person names three things they appreciate today—one about themselves, one about someone here, one about the community.
Ask/offer round: If anyone needs a small help this week, say it; if you can offer something simple, say that too. Capture next steps.
Close with the next touchpoint: Name the time and place for the next short session.
These practices echo the research above: brief, repeated actions can help people reset, notice progress, and show up again with more calm.
Why we’re connecting the dots to National Stress Awareness Day
National Stress Awareness Day is observed on the first Wednesday in November—this year, November 5, 2025. It’s a reminder to slow down, name stress honestly, and practice small, sustainable steps to manage it. We’re marking the day locally by spotlighting consistent, brief touchpoints that build calm and connection—and by inviting partners to help us reach more youth with dependable mentorship and leadership experiences in Pullman, Spokane, and across Washington State. If you or your company want to make a timely difference, this is an easy on‑ramp.
How Cougs 4 Kids keeps trust at the center.
Community trust is non‑negotiable. As part of Believe in Me, we post how we measure impact, maintain a transparency and accountability page, and make it simple to get involved. Our transparency commitments include clear allocation of donations and sponsorships to programming, regular updates and impact stories, annual reports, and oversight through audits and reviews. We also publish contact information so supporters can ask questions directly. If you’re new to our work, start with How We Measure Impact and Transparency & Accountability—then consider sponsoring a series of program activities or making a tax‑deductible gift.
Frequently Asked Questions
It falls on the first Wednesday of November—this year, that’s November 5, 2025.
They’re brief, achievable steps repeated consistently. Research on the progress principle shows frequent progress boosts motivation and positive emotion.
Toggle ConteYes. A 2022 meta‑analysis found that micro‑breaks can boost well‑being and reduce fatigue. In 2024, a study reported that just 10 minutes of daily mindfulness can improve well‑being and reduce depression and anxiety symptoms. nt
We rely on participant surveys and interviews, mentor observations, and program metrics we review throughout the year (with external evaluators when needed). We track leadership and confidence growth, mentor effectiveness, community engagement and project success, program satisfaction, and retention and continued participation. Evaluations occur quarterly, with comprehensive annual reviews, and we invite parent and guardian feedback while protecting participant privacy.
Participants often highlight mentorship and a sense of community as especially impactful in their experience.
Consider a sponsorship or a tax‑deductible donation, or sign up to volunteer here.
Donation
Your tax-deductible contribution directly supports our programs, from funding mentorship and leadership training to providing resources for youth-led community-service projects.
Volunteer with Us
We’re always looking for passionate volunteers who want to make a difference. Whether it’s mentoring, event support, or community outreach, your time can change lives.
About Believe in Me
Cougs 4 Kids is just one of Believe in Me’s programs, each designed to create safe spaces, foster supportive networks, and provide educational opportunities for marginalized youth.