United Way of Southeast Louisiana Collaborative Grant Funding

United Way of Southeast Louisiana Collaborative Grant Funding is sponsored by United Way of Southeast Louisiana. Supports collaborative initiatives addressing complex poverty-related issues in Southeast Louisiana, aligning with the organization's mission to eradicate poverty.

United Way announces $155,000 in grants to address youth mental health - United Way of Southeast Louisiana Skip to content United Way announces $155,000 in grants to address youth mental health 13 Orleans Parish nonprofits selected for second year of RESOLVE NOLA Impact Grants NEW ORLEANS – United Way of Southeast Louisiana (UWSELA), on behalf of the New Orleans Mental Health Collaborative (MHC), announced Thursday the second grant cycle of the Resilient, Equitable Systems for Overcoming Loss and Violence Everywhere (RESOLVE) NOLA Impact Grants .

The MHC partners created the grants to address the critical shortage of mental health resources and addiction services for youth and their families who face the profound impacts of community violence and collective trauma in New Orleans. “Through RESOLVE NOLA Impact Grants, we’re funding essential programs and investing in measurable change,” said Michael Williamson, UWSELA president and CEO .

“Thanks to the vision of Councilmember Joe Giarrusso, the leadership of co-chair Dr. Rochelle Head-Dunham and the MHC’s effort, more young people are finding safe spaces to heal, more families are gaining access to care before a crisis escalates and entire communities are taking steps forward on the path to long-term stability and well-being.

” Councilmember Giarrusso launched the MHC in September 2022 in response to the city’s ongoing mental and behavioral health crisis. Comprised of health care providers, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and businesses, the collaborative oversees RESOLVE NOLA and works to identify and fill gaps in mental health care in the city.

MHC and UWSELA are awarding $155,500 in 2024-2025 RESOLVE NOLA Impact Grants to 13 Orleans Parish nonprofit organizations to provide critical mental health services, addiction prevention programs and trauma-informed support structures.

2025 grant recipients include: New Orleans Art Department Foundation Birthmark Doula Collective Song Community Development Corporation Phoenix Communities of New Orleans This year’s grant recipients underwent a rigorous review process to ensure fair access to funding to address behavioral health disparities and social determinants of health.

A panel of experts carefully evaluated each applicant based on factors such as, history of successfully serving youth, purpose and program goals, delivery methods, project sustainability and measurement tools. Mental health challenges touch every part of a person’s life, and untreated conditions often lead to more severe outcomes, including higher rates of chronic illness and co-occurring disorders.

For families and youth in ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households, limited access to affordable, quality mental health care increases the risk of harmful coping behaviors like substance use. With nearly half of Southeast Louisiana households living below the ALICE Threshold, the RESOLVE NOLA Impact Grants are providing vital support to strengthen community health and stability.

“The SAMHSA RESOLVE Community Impact Grant represents a transformative opportunity for our community,” said Dr. Head-Dunham, co-chair of the MHC Committee and executive and medical director of the Metropolitan Human Services District. “We recognize that funding alone is not enough. Collaboration with persons served, families and supporters will yield higher results in improving mental health and addiction-related outcomes for all.

” Since its inception, the initiative has awarded $405,000 in grants to 29 local organizations and trained more than 3,100 community members, including over 2,100 mental health professionals and youth-serving staff, in trauma-informed perspectives.

It has also reached more than 115,000 residents through mental health awareness campaigns, school-based programming and community events and provided direct behavioral health services to more than 400 high-risk youth and families. To learn more about Resolve, please visit UnitedWaySELA. org/ResolveGrants or contact us at EboneeA@UnitedWaySELA.

org . About United Way of Southeast Louisiana For over 100 years, United Way of Southeast Louisiana (UWSELA) has been a leader and trusted partner in improving lives and making a lasting difference. We fight to eradicate poverty by preparing people for quality jobs, growing incomes, and affording better health and education opportunities throughout Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St.

Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes. We have a bold vision of equitable communities where all individuals are healthy, educated, and financially stable – and we have a plan.

United Way of Southeast Louisiana’s Blueprint for Prosperity guides all strategic investments in programs, initiatives, collaborations, volunteerism, and advocacy aimed at tackling poverty. For more information, please visit UnitedWaySELA. org .

Find us on social: @UnitedWaySELA. Campaign Email: letsgo@helenamorenola. com @HelenamorenoHQ | @helenamorenola Commitment: If elected, would you dedicate additional funding in the City budget for early care and education?

If so, how would you prioritize it in the budget? Both in the state legislature and city council, I’ve been a strong supporter of bringing early childhood education to New Orleans. In 2018, we allocated the first $1.

5M in city funds for additional seats. As Council President, we doubled that to $3M. I was the lead author to put the pre-k millage on the ballot, providing millions more.

I will continue this work as mayor. As for additional funding for pre-k, is there anything more important? We have demonstrated to the public that local government can make progress on this issue with increased resources.

There are competing priorities, especially when it comes to drainage, but our kids desperately need pre-k, and so do our parents, who are under pressure to be both caregiver and financial provider. Commitment: If elected, will you use your power and platform to advocate at the state and federal levels for sustained early childhood funding? If yes, please describe the specific actions you will take to do this.

Every leader at the local, state, and federal levels should be working together to provide high-quality early childhood education to our young people. I will always shout from the rooftops about the enormous benefits of Head Start and pre-k, along with Medicaid, SNAP, public housing, and kids’ programming on PBS.

As mayor, I will lead a broad intergovernmental relations effort with constant coordination between city leadership, the legislative delegation, and advocates. I don’t think anyone is listening, for now, but that can change. More broadly, this is why the mayoral election is so important.

New Orleans needs to stand on its own two feet. No one is coming to rescue us, so we must be strong in the face of unprecedented economic, environmental, and political headwinds. Commitment: If elected, will you commit to ensuring our early care and education providers can keep their doors open, grow their business, pay a living wage to their teachers, and help ensure families and educators can continue to afford to live in the city?

If yes, please describe the specific actions you will take to do this. Child care providers will have a strong supporter in the mayor’s office when I am elected. Our city hall will serve as a hub, connecting needs and resources, with a focus on streamlining red tape for critical service providers, such as those offering child care.

It is not enough to have more early childhood seats; we need quality. Even at current levels of local and state funding, pre-K early education programs exist in an environment where low wages are the norm and facilities are often in disrepair. The current climate at the state and federal levels may preclude additional funds.

Yet, at the local level, as I mentioned earlier, is there anything more important than pre-k? We have demonstrated to the public that local government can make progress on this issue with increased resources.

Commitment: If elected, would you commit to ensuring essential local workers – including those in city government – can access childcare through local providers, and that private sector employers do their part in ensuring their employees can access the childcare they need to work, be productive, and grow our economy? If yes, please elaborate on how you would fulfill this commitment.

I will always advocate amongst employers and at the state level for a real-living wage that can provide for a family. In workplaces across New Orleans and at city hall, I see parents working double time, struggling to keep up due to a lack of child care. Part of the answer is more public school seats for children aged 6 months to 4 years old.

For older kids, I want NORD to do more. A lot more. I have been a leader in expanding NORD’s budget to record highs.

Now the goal is to maximize services during non-school hours. Summer enrichment is especially crucial to prevent any backslide. In short, I want to usher in a NORD Renaissance, especially after school.

This would go a long way, especially for working parents who need a few more critical hours of support before they can leave work. Commitment: If elected, will you commit to maintaining this office and protecting these investments? How will you ensure these efforts are sustained beyond your term and are prioritized in future budgets?

Yes. I helped lead the effort for early childhood education with Agenda for Children, and I will commit to maintaining and protecting these early childhood investments. They were hard won, and we cannot lose them.

If anything, we need an expansion, which will be the key subject of future budgets, which must balance ALL the city’s needs. The bottom line: we must support families, or else they will simply leave, and New Orleans will not have a future.

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