Nine Grants Issued from Community Behavioral Health Fund, totaling $108,275
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the New Canaan Community Foundation (NCCF) is making a meaningful impact on behavioral health in New Canaan and neighboring communities. NCCF awarded nine strategic grants totaling $108,275 across two different funding areas: one supports programs and systems-level initiatives, and the other addresses key findings from the 2024 Community Health & Well-Being Survey.
In alignment with NCCF’s strategic goal of strengthening our Community Leadership work, NCCF is pleased to issue nine grants totaling $108,275 responding to two separate RFPs from the Community Behavioral Health Fund.
One RFP supports systems-level work in the behavioral health space, and the other seeks to support programming that addresses the findings from the 2024 Community Health and Well-Being Survey.
These grant opportunities intend to supplement the grantmaking from NCCF’s main grant cycle, which will continue to fund programmatic behavioral health work in and around New Canaan.
Systems-Level Change Grants
Systems-level work seeks to improve the broader behavioral health landscape in our region, rather than focus solely on the needs of individual nonprofits. NCCF grants in this area included:
Laurel House: $50,000 to support the creation of the Lower Fairfield County Behavioral Health Network, which will bridge gaps in care coordination by: conducting comprehensive outreach to behavioral health providers and supporting organizations in the region, assessing clinician needs, delivering targeted skills transfer regarding wraparound services, and facilitating connections among clinical providers and essential community supports.
Norwalk ACTS: $10,000 to support the city-wide Day of Training, which equips all youth-serving adults across Norwalk with a shared set of Standard of Care competencies. By creating a common language and skillset across sectors, the Day of Training ensures that no matter where a young person turns, they are more likely to encounter a connected, informed adult that is able to connect them to additional supports/services.
Kids In Crisis: $15,000 to launch the KIC Text Helpline, an expansion of their proven Helpline model which will remove barriers to access and meet young people in their preferred mode of communication. The Helpline will be staffed by counselors with strong ties to Fairfield County schools, hospitals, and community resources, ensuring seamless local referrals.
Survey Response Grants – Supporting Community Needs
At the same time, NCCF has issues six grants responding to the findings of the 2024 Community Health and Well-Being Survey, administered to New Canaan adults 18+ in the Fall of 2024. The full survey findings and presentation can be found here, and a press release summarizing the findings can be found here. This RFP was strategically open to individual community members (to encourage residents to plan responsive programming) as well as nonprofit organizations. Grants included:
Inclusive Together: $3,000 to provide meaningful, age-appropriate social programming for Disabled adults in New Canaan. Programming will be physically and financially accessible, and will target acutely Disabled individuals, who may require the help of an aide, and may not communicate verbally.
Community Mindfulness Project: $2,500 to launch a new series of Parent Circles of Support, which will use mindfulness tools and practices to reduce stress, strengthen emotional regulation, and foster resilience in New Canaan parents.
Family Centers: $15,000 to launch “Sandwich Generation” support groups in New Canaan, to support individuals in town who are both raising children and caring for aging parents. Groups will be led by Licensed Clinical Social Workers and free of charge to participants.
New Canaan CARES: $2,775 to support a Positive Discipline Workshop Series for Parents. Positive Discipline uses research-based parenting tools to reduce conflict, increase calmness and joy in the home, and promote courage and self-resilience in children. The series will be facilitated by Diane Hobbs, a New Canaan resident and Positive Discipline trainer.
New Canaan Public Schools: $5,000 to support guest speaker Lenore Skenazy's "Building Confidence and Independence in Our Children" presentation to New Canaan parents and educators, which will focus on fostering age-appropriate independence and resilience. Following Skenazy’s presentation, NCPS plans to offer town-wide initiatives (ex: scavenger hunts) in partnership with local businesses and organizations to promote a culture that empowers New Canaan’s children and eases parenting stress.
The Rowan Center: $5,000 to support KidSafeHQ training in New Canaan, which will help caregivers and teens navigate online risks (sextortion, deepfakes, grooming), understand the issues affecting children in Fairfield County, and know the resources that are available to help.
These programs are only possible because of your support. Every donation helps build a stronger, healthier community. Consider giving to NCCF’s Annual Appeal to continue expanding the behavioral health network that New Canaan counts on.