Community Foundation Offers Funds to Address Youth Mental Health Issues

In the discussion on how to prevent another tragedy like the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School last year, many have stressed that mental health services for the state's young people is key.

To contribute to the solution, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain's Catalyst Fund has issued a request for proposals to local mental health providers in Southington, Plainville, Berlin and New Britain to address young people's mental health issues and the need to increase society’s understanding. The chosen provider will receive a $10,000 grant in November to pursue its proposed work.

The deadline for proposals is August 9.

Catalyst Fund members heard presentations from Connecticut-based mental health experts on the subject of youth mental health issues, including Dr. Elisabeth Cannata, Ph.D., Vice President of Community-Based Family Services and Practice Innovation at Plainville’s Wheeler Clinic, and Ann Nelson, R.N., B.S.N, Family Research and Provider Education Coordinator at the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Cannata said that while the proportion of children with behavioral health disorders is on the rise, only one in five receives the treatment they need. 

According to the release, the Community Foundation is looking for proposals that address three critical facets of the issue: expansion of public education and awareness; enhancement of early detection and screening; and development, strengthening or expansion of therapeutic programs and/or interventions that encourage self-awareness and personal empowerment for youth diagnosed with a mental illness.

A copy of the RFP is available by calling Joeline Wruck, Director of Program, atjwruck@cfgnb.org or (860) 229-6018, ext. 307.