A cross-sector alliance to promote behavioral health and community safety foryouth in chicago's far south side communities - title: a cross-sector alliance to promote behavioral health and community…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded $749,962 to The University of Chicago Medical Center on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532) to build and operate a cross-sector alliance delivering behavioral health prevention and intervention services to youth in Chicago's Far South Side communities.

The recipient will connect at-risk youth to school-based prevention programs, trauma-focused therapy, and behavioral health support services. The project will also deliver trauma-informed and mental health literacy trainings to adult partners including parents, teachers, and organizational leaders. Work includes assembling a behavioral health and community safety coalition by month six, formalizing community partnerships through memoranda of understanding, and completing a community needs and resources assessment.

The award addresses documented risks to youth in violence-impacted Far South Side communities, where high rates of crime and community violence correlate with increased risk for serious behavioral health disorders, poor academic achievement, and substance use. The project leverages existing work and partnerships to create a coordinated approach to community safety, behavioral health intervention, and community resilience.

Period of performance runs from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2031. Place of performance is Chicago, Illinois 60637.

A cross-sector alliance to promote behavioral health and community safety foryouth in chicago's far south side communities - title: a cross-sector alliance to promote behavioral health and community safety for youth in chicago's far south side communities summary: this samhsa behavioral health and community safety partnerships grant will provide behavioral health prevention and intervention services to youth, build community capacity and resilience, and strengthen community safety in chicago's far south side communities. Chicago suffers high rates of crime and community violence, particularly in its south side communities. Youth who live in these violence-impacted communities are at risk for serious behavioral health disorders, poor academic achievement, and substance use. Despite the importance of prevention and intervention strategies, youth-focused resources and programs are limited. This project aims to leverage existing work in chicago's far south side communities to create a coordinated cross-sector approach to community safety, behavioral health intervention, and community resilience. We will connect at-risk youth in these far south side communities to a school-based prevention program, trauma-focused therapy, and behavioral health support services. We will also provide trauma-informed and mental health literacy trainings to key adult partners in the community, including parents, teachers, and organizational leaders. The goals of this project include: 1. Build a project team dedicated to understanding and enhancing the unique resources and needs in chicago's far south side communities, leveraging existing work and partnerships. By month 6, we will assemble a behavioral health and community safety coalition, formalize partnerships with memoranda of understanding, and complete community needs and resources assessment for chicago's far south side communities. 2. Develop a comprehensive and community-partnered prevention and intervention plan, building upon existing school-based programming, mental health services, as well as community training and engagement. The behavioral health and community safety coalition will meet BI-weekly to draft a community strategic plan, obtain community input through community forums and youth advisory board meetings, and finalize the strategic plan by month 9. 3. Build a comprehensive referral and resource network for chicago's far south side communities and expand capacity both within and across prevention, early intervention, and treatment programs. Through increased staff and trainings starting in year one, we will increase capacity for behavioral health support services and mentorship, tutoring, career exposure, and social emotional learning. Formal referral pathways will expand youth access to services. 4. Implement expanded behavioral health intervention and preventive services and create care linkages for youth on chicago's far south side. Starting month 9, we will deliver school-based prevention program (mentorship, tutoring, career exposure, social emotional learning) to 120 youth across 8 schools annually, individual therapy to 20 youth annually, and behavioral health support services to 40 youth annually. 5. Expand capacity of chicago's far south side communities to recognize and intervene on youth behavioral health needs through trainings and community engagement events. Starting month 9, we will provide mental health literacy and trauma-informed trainings for community organizations, school personnel, parents, caregivers, and community members. We will also provide emergency response trainings to youth and community members. In total, we aim to reach 200 persons annually through these capacity building trainings.