The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound has launched a Youth Mental Health Learning Cohort & Community of Practice.
Donor Name: Community Foundation of South Puget Sound
State: Washington
County: Lewis County (WA), Mason County (WA), Thurston County (WA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/24/2024
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
This initiative is designed to build local capacity and foster stronger connections among youth-serving organizations, equipping them with strategies to better support young people in the community.
This cohort will prioritize a prevention-focused, upstream approach. While they recognize the importance of treatment services, they believe that prevention and resilience-building are also essential to addressing the root causes of mental health challenges. The efforts are designed to complement and enhance the great work already being done by schools, state and local agencies, health care providers, and other organizations in this space.
The goals of this initiative are threefold:
- Increase Capacity: Equip organizations with the skills and knowledge to better support youth through science-backed, trauma-informed practices.
- Foster Collaboration: Strengthen relationships among youth-serving organizations, encouraging the sharing of resources and strategies to create a more connected and resilient support network.
- Plant Seeds for Systemic Change: By investing in the capacity of organizations and their staff, they are laying the groundwork for broader, long-term improvements in how the community supports youth mental health.
Funding Information
The Youth Mental Health Learning Cohort will bring together 10-15 local organizations, each receiving $10,000 to participate in a series of trainings, workshops, and collaborative learning opportunities. Over the course of the year, cohort members will engage in topics like Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), trauma-informed care, racial equity and inclusion, and youth empowerment.
Grant Period
Year-long cohort.
Expected Outcomes
- Increased Capacity: Organizations will enhance their ability to support youth through trauma-informed practices, including shared knowledge and language about ACEs and resilience-based practices.
- Collaboration & Shared Learning: Participants will share knowledge and strategies, building relationships with one another and strengthening the network of providers in our region, leading to more coordinated and effective supports for young people.
- Planting Seeds for Systems Impact: The cohort will help plant seeds for systemic change by growing capacity and fostering practices that can integrate into the broader community. As these seeds take root, they contribute to a more resilient ecosystem of support that benefits the entire community.
Eligibility Criteria
Organizations with up to date 501(c)(3) public charity status or Tribal affiliated/Native program that serves youth (birth to 18 years old) in Thurston, Lewis, or Mason County. In addition to 501(c)(3) status or Tribal/Native program:
- Organizations must demonstrate basic organizational capacity, including reasonable financial health and governance practices, including a minimum of 3 board members.
- Organizations must acknowledge that they will use their $10,000 stipend to pay for staff time and reimburse their staff for travel/mileage for participating in the learning cohort.
- Examples of qualifying nonprofit organizations who provide supports to youth include, but are not limited to:
- Health Services: chemical dependency, mental health, pediatricians, primary care
- Social Services: child welfare, housing & homelessness, food banks, domestic violence, senior services, victim services, basic needs, faith-based services
- Criminal Justice: juvenile/adult programs, law enforcement, court services, first responders, organizations offering support services in these facilities
- Child Education Services: childcare providers, preschools, before/after school activity providers, mentoring/tutoring, and youth-serving organizations
- Early-intervention/Prevention Services: home-visiting, parent educators, and peer-support programs
- Youth Enrichment: dance, art, photography, music, sports, etc.
For more information, visit CFSPS.
