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Community Corner

Township Community Mental Health Board Awards $700K to Nonprofits

The 14 grant recipients address mental health needs for Vernon Township community members.

The Township Community Mental Health Board is dedicated to helping residents with a range of mental health and substance use service needs, as well as people with developmental disabilities.
The Township Community Mental Health Board is dedicated to helping residents with a range of mental health and substance use service needs, as well as people with developmental disabilities. (Vernon Township)

The Vernon Township Community Mental Health Board is dedicated to raising awareness about mental health service providers, with an overarching goal to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and to break down any barriers Township residents may have in accessing these vital – and life-saving – services. On June 20, the Mental Health Board voted to award a total of $703,500 in community grants to 14 local social service agencies that serve individuals with a range of mental health and substance use service needs, as well as people with developmental disabilities.

After forming in December 2022, the Mental Health Board has worked to build its foundation and prepare for new opportunities to support area nonprofit service providers whose programs support the needs of the Vernon Township community and meet the goals of the Vernon Township Community Mental Health Board. 2024 is the first year that grants have been awarded to organizations that deliver mental health services to residents of the Township following the Mental Health Board’s first levy.

“This first year allocating funds was a big responsibility for our Board, and I thank all of our Board members for their diligence in reviewing the applications from agencies seeking financial assistance to serve our community members,” said Mental Health Board President Noelle Moore. “I also want to thank the organizations that we are funding, that serve Township residents.”

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The 14 agencies that will receive grants are: The Center for Enriched Living, Clearbrook, Erie Family Health Centers, Southeast Lake County Faith in Action, A Safe Place, Lambs Farm, Little City Foundation, OMNI Youth Services, Riverside Foundation, Shelter, Inc, Stand Strong Coalition, The Josselyn Center, Willow House, and Youth & Family Counseling.

By Illinois statute, the Mental Health Board has authority in these three areas: general mental health services, drug and alcohol use prevention and programming, and services for people with developmental disabilities.

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To learn more about the Vernon Township Community Mental Health Board, or to contact them directly, visit vernontownship.com/286/Mental-Health-Board.

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