We’re proud to share that CAC has received a $73,740 grant from the @Otto Bremer Trust, distributed by @United Way of Dane County, to expand our mental health programming across South Central Wisconsin. 💙 This investment from Otto Bremer Trust is more than a grant — it’s a commitment to the well-being of our community. Mental health continues to be one of the top concerns in our schools and neighborhoods, and this support allows CAC to respond directly to that need. With this funding, CAC will continue to lead Mental Health First Aid and QPR Suicide Prevention trainings for youth and adults into the 2026 year, helping more people recognize warning signs, de-escalate crises, and connect others to care. Over the next year, we’ll provide: ✨ 36 in-person classes for youth (ages 12–18) ✨ 100 adult classes for teachers, staff, and first responders A heartfelt thank you to Otto Bremer Trust for investing in both CAC and the health of our communities, and to United Way of Dane County for administering these funds and being a trusted partner in this work. Interested in joining a class or spreading the word? Share this post and follow CAC on LinkedIn for updates. #MentalHealthMatters #CommunityAction #OttoBremerTrust #UnitedWayDaneCounty #YouthWellbeing #StrongerTogether #CACSCW

What if safeguarding in schools meant more than protecting: it meant empowering? Next month at the @PHASE conference in Singapore, I’ll be sharing a vision that sits at the heart of what we do at Choose Hope, an initiative under the Center For Positive Psychology & Wellbeing by Sandy Sinn: building a ‘Network of Safety’ across every school community. Too often, suicide prevention is left to a few specialists or counselors. But what if every teacher, coach, and staff member had the confidence and skills to notice when a student is struggling and knew how to offer help that could save a life? That’s what a suicide-safer campus looks like: an empowered community where caring, connection, and competence flow through every corner of a school. The World Health Organization reminds us that mental health and wellbeing are not just medical issues—they are community health priorities, and schools are among the most powerful settings for prevention and growth. When we equip entire school communities with suicide first aid skills, we redefine safeguarding from a reactive response to a proactive culture of care. At PHASE in Singapore, I’ll be introducing this whole-school approach—one that strengthens safety through shared responsibility and collective compassion. Because safeguarding isn’t just about preventing tragedy; it’s about building hope, together. https://lnkd.in/gXaa68AR #PHASEAP25 #NetworkOfSafety #SuicidePrevention #EveryEducator #Safeguarding #ChooseHope #Singapore #WholeSchoolApproach (Andy) Anh Ho Gabrielle Hicks Shayne Connell Justin Hardman 21st Century Learning Chris Grant Alexandra Berry Boe Leung Sandy Sinn Suicide Prevention Educator Sophia Luu Samuel Bourne Karla Marie Jacinto, LPT Grace V. Lee Hammond David Burke My Holland (MBA,MA) Melvin Fernando Terese Schuts Thanh Vo Tony Louw Thuy NG Dr. Alex Wai Ki Li Minh Nguyen Linh My Ngoc NGUYEN Hương Đặng Thu Mary Collins Tom Owen lubna khan Chau Mai Carlene Hamley Chris Elkin Chiao Peng Vicki Cheung Rebecca L. Hannah Casey Ruby L. Quang Trinh Rakesh Dayal

School leaders and educators: targeted mental health grants can expand counseling access, fund staff training, and support evidence-based programs that improve student well-being and academics. At SBHSN we share practical guidance on identifying grant opportunities, building sustainable school-based services, and measuring outcomes to make the most of funding. Learn how to strengthen supports in your middle or high school: https://wix.to/r7PKn9v 🧠📈 #SchoolMentalHealth #StudentWellness #EducationLeadership

Last month at the Association for Community Living, Inc. #ACLAIMH Annual Conference, 4 CUCS experts shared what we've learned about getting it right. As New York's premier mental health housing conference, ACLAIMH brings together providers, industry leaders, and state regulators to learn from each other and strengthen the field. Mike Golub and Paprika Hofsommer from the CUCS Institute led a workshop on engaging young adults facing homelessness, exploring how to support young people navigating trauma and housing instability without simply telling them what to do. James Holmes from the CUCS Academy and Delores Hunter from the CUCS Institute joined a panel on crisis response and Daniel's Law Task Force legislation, drawing on CUCS's nearly decade-long Crisis Intervention Team training partnership with NYPD. We're proud to be part of conferences where experts come together to share knowledge that strengthens care across the state. CUCS leads training in New York City and at conferences across the state, because advancing the field means better care for everyone.

Interconnecting education, policy, and storytelling, Annabelle Oberst (’25 B.A.Ed.) co-created a countywide resiliency campaign within her role at the Orange Partnership for Alcohol and Drug Free Youth. The campaign, part of the Orange Resilience Initiative, spotlighted mental health awareness and the 988 crisis helpline during Suicide Prevention Month, shifting the focus from crisis response to prevention and coping skills. Using Chapel Hill Transit buses and community outreach, Oberst helped spread the message across the county. Learn how these projects enabled her to apply the creativity and communication skills she developed at Carolina to create impactful prevention messaging. https://unc.live/4o58jJH Human Development & Family Science at UNC School of Education

We agree wholeheartedly that the well-being of students starts with the well-being of educators. Our team at Lavender is so proud to partner with Legacy Health Endowment (LHE) in increasing access to mental health care in the California Central Valley. The Lavender and LHE partnership will extend complimentary online therapy and psychiatric care to school staff and their families across LHE’s 19 service zip codes. This program is designed to support teachers, administrators, school staff, and their immediate families to have access to kind, timely, and high-quality care when they need it most. As LHE President & CEO Jeffrey R. Lewis states, this initiative is about "finding solutions that truly disrupt the status quo" to support our community's bedrock. We're honored to bring our person-first, kind care model to Stanislaus and Merced Counties. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/es8rDazW #MentalHealthCare #CollaborativeCare #StanislausCounty #MercedCounty

🚓 Building Safer, More Compassionate Responses to Crisis With support from Staunton Farm Foundation, the ARMSTRONG-INDIANA BEHAVIORAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM (AIBDHP) is training local law enforcement to respond to mental health crises with empathy, skill, and care. 💙 Through a $25,000 grant, AIBDHP partnered with Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Police Academy to expand Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) — helping officers learn how to de-escalate situations, connect individuals to treatment, and strengthen community trust. Since the program’s launch, 38 cadets and 19 officers have completed CIT, with a goal of having at least one CIT-trained officer in every Armstrong and Indiana County police department. This effort ensures that when someone is in crisis, help comes in the form of understanding and collaboration — not fear or punishment. 🧩 Together, we’re improving community response and creating pathways to treatment and recovery for all. 📞 Learn more about upcoming CIT sessions by contacting AIBDHP at (724) 548-3451 ext. 686. Read the full article: bit.ly/4ozwy2p #WorkingForMentalWellnes

Last week, MSCF presented a grant to Wolcott Citizens Against Substance Abuse (CASA) to support their yoga program aimed at promoting family togetherness, mental health, and wellness. This $700 grant was awarded from the Fuller and Myrtle Barnes Fund for Education, which was established in 1998 to honor the memory of local industrialist and community leader Fuller Barnes and his wife Myrtle. Grants from this fund provide support to educational programs and opportunities for teachers and students in the pre-school to 12th grade. In addition to preventing substance misuse and other youth risk-taking behaviors, CASA promotes wellness and well-being throughout the Wolcott community. Their yoga program will distribute local and national behavioral health resources, raise awareness about CASA, and support youth development, self-care, and family bonding.

In 2024, The Walters Method received funding from The Mayor’s Fund and the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership to support young women and girls experiencing underlying trauma, including those at risk of offending, as well as survivors of domestic abuse and violent crime, their witnesses, and family members. Through this project, we offered support to 67 women and girls, many of whom shared that this was the first time they had felt truly seen and heard. Early research, conducted in partnership with The University of Huddersfield , shows that after just five sessions, participants experienced significant improvements in anxiety, depression, feelings of wellbeing and overall quality of lifeand these improvements lasted. “I’ve learnt to recognise that my thoughts, emotions, and flashbacks aren’t happening in the current moment. I’m not in danger.” Grounding. Awareness. Healing. This is what a TWM practice looks like. Every story reminds us why this work matters. It’s not just about healing; it’s about helping people rediscover their sense of self, purpose, and possibility. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing more reflections from the women and girls who took part because this is truly important community work that The Walters Method is proud to have undertaken to help make a difference. #TheWaltersMethod #TraumaInformedCare #WomensWellbeing #CommunityImpact #MindfulnessInPractice #HealingJourney #WestYorkshire #TraumaRecovery #WellbeingMatters