FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — NAU School of Social Work faculty member Brandie Reiner is a champion for social policy in Arizona, a recent recipient of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce ATHENA Young Professional Award, and a Phoenix Business Journal “40 Under 40” 2025 honoree. Most recently, she served as a panelist for “United in Play: Leveling the Field for ALICE Families Through Sports and Mental Wellness” at the 2026 ALICE Summit in Miami, Florida.
United For ALICE, a national research and advocacy initiative led by United Way of Northern New Jersey, continues to shed light on the financial challenges facing working families across the country. New ALICE research shows that 41% of U.S. households, classified as Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, are unable to afford basic necessities despite being in the workforce.
What began as a local study in New Jersey has grown into a nationwide movement spanning more than two-thirds of U.S. states. United For ALICE provides data-driven insights that help policymakers, employers, and community leaders better understand the gap between wages and the true cost of living, and identify solutions that promote financial stability.
In 2026, United For ALICE expanded the conversation to mental health through the United in Play Panel session, which explores whether sports can serve as a blueprint for mental health innovation, particularly for ALICE families. United in Play is a community-based model that uses athletics to foster mental wellness, connection, and resilience by reducing barriers to access, training coaches to recognize signs of distress, and linking families to mental health resources.
The panel brought together leaders in sports, mental health, and community impact to examine how gyms, locker rooms, and playing fields can become platforms for healing. Organizers say the session also highlighted how United Ways can adopt the turn-key United in Play model to strengthen mental health support for ALICE households nationwide.
Here is what Brandie had to say about her time at the ALICE Summit:
Grateful to join the #UnitedInPlay panel on youth mental health in sports. We can’t separate mental health from the realities families are experiencing. Supporting kids means supporting caregivers too, especially ALICE families.
Sports can be a lifeline. But only if we make it accessible, trauma-informed, and connected to real community supports. Appreciate everyone who’s building systems where young people can thrive, on and off the field!