Grants for youth mental health will be available to community organizations starting in 2026 when The Cigna Group Foundation begins its second year of operating the Improving Youth Mental Health grant program. Grants will focus on nonprofit organizations that work with youth aged 26 and under in 10 states; Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas. This program is part of a $9 million dollar commitment over three years from the foundation to support the positive development of youth.
An organization that applies for and receives a grant award for youth mental health can use those funds to create or expand upon a current youth mental health program by implementing services such as mental health services (counseling), peer support, collaboration with schools, and the use of culturally appropriate services.
In many cases, the organizations will be targeted toward providing youth experiencing multiple layers of difficulty (i.e., discrimination, poverty, chronic illness, unstable family dynamics) with options for accessing affordable, youth friendly services. Additionally, by funding established organizations that have already developed relationships with their communities, the foundation hopes to continue replicating the success of existing programs rather than adding new youth mental health programs using a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
Leaders in organizations that receive grant money for youth mental health say that, in many ways, this funding is an indicator to the youth they serve that their struggles to navigate daily life matter, and that the adult community is willing to make investments in their futures. Many of the funded organizations include components such as storytelling, creative art, physical activities, and engagement with families or caregivers along with traditional therapy in their programs to help youth develop a positive sense of identity.
Following the pandemic, anxiety, depression, and self-harming behaviours in young people are still very prevalent. This youth mental health grant funding comes at a critical time and many advocacy groups are emphasising that long-term ongoing funding of this nature will create real change for our at-risk youth rather than simply continuing to do pilot projects.
Source: The Cigna Group Foundation – Youth Mental Health Grant Progra
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