San Diego Foundation Awards $535K to Expand Mental and Behavioral Health Care Resources for Children and Families

July 7, 2022 – San Diego, CA – San Diego Foundation today awarded $535,000 in grants to 19 nonprofit programs in San Diego County that support culturally responsive and trauma-informed mental and behavioral health services for children and families.

“Supporting children and families who experience trauma and strengthening organizations that serve them are vital to building a healthy, thriving and resilient region,” said Katie Rast, Director of Community Impact at San Diego Foundation. “Even before the pandemic, our children and youth were in a mental health crisis. We’re thankful to these regional partners who will expand access and equitably serve San Diego families with sensitivity and care.”

Launched in fall 2021, the Healthy Children and Families Initiative at San Diego Foundation addresses gaps in access to critical services in the region. The following grants further San Diego Foundation’s collaborative work with regional partners to support the mental and behavioral well-being of San Diego’s children and families.

The inaugural Healthy Children and Families Initiative grants include:

According to the December 2020 report Roadmap for Resilience: The California Surgeon General’s Report on Adverse Childhood Experiences, Toxic Stress, and Health, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma represent an urgent public health crisis with wide-reaching health and societal impacts.

Informed by this report, as well as by regional data and local stakeholders, mental and behavioral health challenges are recognized as important issues that impact many children, families and service providers that deliver care in San Diego County.

About San Diego Foundation

San Diego Foundation inspires enduring philanthropy and enables community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region. Our strategic priorities include advancing racial and social justice, fostering equity of opportunity, building resilient communities, and delivering world-class philanthropy to realize our vision of just, equitable and resilient communities. The Healthy Children and Families Initiative advances community resilience through health equity and increases the quality of life for children and families through expanded access to supportive services. For more than 47 years, SDF and its donors have granted more than $1.3 billion to support nonprofit organizations strengthening our community. Learn more at SDFoundation.org.

Contact

Lorena Nava Ruggero, San Diego Foundation, lruggero@sdfoundation.org, 619-814-1365

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