The Village for Families & Children has been awarded a grant of $150,000 from The Cigna Group Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Cigna Group, to help address the mental health crisis among children throughout Greater Hartford.
Support from The Cigna Group Foundation will support essential mental health services for youth ages 5-18 at The Village’s 1680 Albany Avenue campus in Hartford, CT. This includes the Urgent Crisis Center (UCC), a first-of-its-kind walk-in clinic for youth in immediate mental health crises, as well as the Eagle House psychiatric residential treatment facility and the Sub-Acute Crisis Stabilization (SACS) program. Together, these programs offer comprehensive care to help children and teens heal, build resilience, and overcome mental health challenges.
“This grant from The Cigna Group Foundation will help us provide vital mental health support to children throughout Greater Hartford and the region,” said Village President & CEO Hector Glynn. “Right now, youth are facing challenges at rates that are higher than ever. We are so grateful to have The Cigna Group Foundation’s support as we work to address the ongoing children’s mental health crisis in our state.”
“To effectively intervene in the youth mental health crisis, we need strong partnerships with nonprofit organizations committed to improving the health and vitality of young people,” said Melissa Skottegaard, board chair, The Cigna Group Foundation. “Communities are only just beginning to grapple with the impact of the youth mental health crisis post-pandemic. We are privileged to partner with The Village to enable their important work to improve the mental health of youth in the communities we both serve.”
According to a recent analysis by The Cigna Group’s Evernorth Research Institute, the number of young people with mental health conditions has increased 28% since 2018, and the number of young people with at least two mental health diagnoses has risen 48% over the same period. More than one in four parents report having a child with mental health challenges, diagnosed or undiagnosed, and many report challenges to obtaining behavioral health care for their child, including access barriers.
The Cigna Group Foundation has a long history of impactful partnerships with nonprofits, and recently announced a philanthropic and community engagement initiative that has committed more than $27 million in grants over the next three years to nonprofit organizations focused on improving youth mental health, improving veteran mental health, and reducing barriers to health equity.
More information on The Cigna Group Foundation’s youth mental health grant program can be found here. Additional information about The Village’s programs can be found here.