Goodhue County, MN (August, 2022) – The Goodhue County Child and Family Collaborative (GCCFC) is pleased to announce that $100,000 a year for three years will be awarded to five organizations throughout Goodhue County as a result of the Mental Health Prevention and Intervention Grant Program. GCCFC was allocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from Goodhue County to support the mental health recovery of youth, families, and caregivers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and made these funds available to community organizations through a competitive grant process.
Mental health was already identified as a top health concern in Goodhue County and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the issue, which makes investing in the mental health and well-being of the community critical. A survey conducted for the Mental Health Coalition of Goodhue County found that youth, parents, and those who work with youth were among the most likely to report a decline in their mental health since March 2020.
“We are excited to leverage ARPA funds to enhance mental health services throughout the county through both evidence-based and innovative programs for our kids and our caregivers,” said Maggie Cichosz, GCCFC Coordinator. The following projects were selected for funding:
GCCFC believes that these grant awards will have a significant impact on the mental health outcomes for youth, families, and caregivers in Goodhue County.
About the Goodhue County Child & Family Collaborative:
The vision of the Goodhue County Child & Family Collaborative is for all Goodhue County families to have the resources, skills, relationships, supports and opportunities they need to be strong and resilient. The Board of Directors includes representatives from Goodhue County Health and Human Services, Cannon Falls Public Schools, Goodhue Public Schools, Kenyon-Wanamingo Public Schools, Red Wing Public Schools, Goodhue County Education District, Goodhue County Court Services, Three Rivers Community Action, Lake City Public Schools, Zumbrota-Mazeppa Public Schools, Fernbrook Family Center, Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center, United Way of Goodhue, Wabasha, and Pierce, and Red Wing Youth Outreach.