Californiaāāā Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth āMental Health
March 28, 2024
NR24-007
Awards Support Efforts by Local Organizations to Promote Equity, Prioritize Youth Needs, and Empower Caregivers and Communitiesāāā
What You Need To Know: California is awarding grants to dozens of tribal and community-based local organizations to reduce stigma and discrimination and support youth in seeking help when they are facing mental health struggles.
Sacramento ā To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state. The awarded organizations, as part of the stateās Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), are working at a community level to address youth mental health challenges throughout California.
āThe need to support the mental health of our children and youth is more urgent than ever,ā said Dr. TomĆ”s J. AragĆ³n, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer. āWith these grants, California is supporting efforts to address the diverse mental health needs of Californiaās young people, particularly those in underserved communities who face the greatest systemic barriers to wellness.ā
āThese awards, along with the efforts of other CYBHI projects, have the potential to make a significant and lasting impact on the lives of children, youth, families, and communities across the state,ā said Dr. Mark Ghaly, California Health and Human Services Secretary.
Grant Details: The grants support mental, emotional, and behavioral health promotion, prevention, and treatment for individuals ages 0-25, and their families and caregivers. With the funds, the organizations are engaging youth from their respective communities to create culturally, linguistically, and age-appropriate outreach campaigns in-person and online. The campaigns aim to promote health seeking behaviors, diminish stigma, and foster open discussions about mental health issues.
āWhat Grant Recipients Are Saying:
- Asian Pacific Counseling and Treatment Centers, Special Services Group: āOur goal is to destigmatize mental health treatment and connect more kids and families with the care they need. We are looking forward to implementing this grant!ā
- Hlub Hmong Center, Ci4Ci: āThis grant from CYBHI presents a rare opportunity to embed mental health and wellness into cultural practices for the survival of Hāmong people and culture."
- Sacramento Native American Health Center: "With the help of this funding, weāre creating social media campaigns targeted at children and parents in our community. We hope these marketing campaigns are a spark for behavior change and inspire a fresh outlook on mental health."
- Safe Passages: āWe are excited and fully committed to using this grant to positively impact mental, emotional, and behavioral health within our communities.ā
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