Northwestern University Settlement

BILINGUAL, BI-CULTURAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR LATINX YOUTH - PROJECT ABSTRACT SUMMARY: THROUGH THIS GRANT, THE SETTLEMENT WILL EXPAND THE SERVICES OFFERED BY OUR FAMILY CARES MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PROVIDING BILINGUAL, BI-CULTURAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE CHICAGO AREA WHO HAVE LONG BEEN NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY A LACK OF ACCESS TO QUALITY MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMMING. GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND POPULATION SERVED: WHILE THE SETTLEMENT MAINTAINS OUR FOCUS ON CHICAGO’S WEST TOWN, AND ITS SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IMPACT RESIDENTS IN OVER 85% OF CHICAGO ZIP CODES. 80% OF OUR PARTICIPANTS ARE LOW-INCOME, AND 82% IDENTIFY AS LATINX AND BLACK. THE YOUTH SERVED BY THE SETTLEMENT ARE PREDOMINATELY FROM SPANISH-SPEAKING, LOW-INCOME FAMILIES FROM THE WEST TOWN NEIGHBORHOOD OF CHICAGO. NEED: RECENT CDC DATA SHOWS THAT 44% OF YOUTH REPORTED FEELING PERSISTENTLY SAD OR HOPELESS DURING THE PAST YEAR. IN 2021, 55% OF YOUTH REPORTED EXPERIENCING EMOTIONAL ABUSE BY A PARENT OR ADULT IN THE HOME, AND 11% EXPERIENCED PHYSICAL ABUSE. ACCORDING TO THE BLUEPRINT FOR TRANSFORMATION - A VISION FOR IMPROVED BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE FOR ILLINOIS CHILDREN (2/2023), NEARLY 40% OF YOUTH IN ILLINOIS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A MAJOR DEPRESSIVE EPISODE WERE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS APPROPRIATE SERVICES AND CARE. THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS A SIGNIFICANT NEED TO NOT ONLY ADDRESS CRISES AS THEY OCCUR, BUT TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO MEDICAID-ELIGIBLE YOUTH UNDER THE AGE OF 21, A POPULATION EXPERIENCING A CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF AVAILABLE SERVICES. GOALS: FUNDING FROM THE CDS GRANT WILL ALLOW US TO: 1) BRING THIS CRITICAL PROGRAM TO SCALE BY HIRING THREE ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME BILINGUAL, BI-CULTURAL THERAPISTS. 2) INCREASE POSITIVE BEHAVIORS, AND IMPROVE THE EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, AND OVERALL FUNCTIONING OF THE CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS SERVED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. 3) BECOME A COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER ALLOWING US TO BILL MEDICAID FOR SERVICES WE PROVIDE, MOVING THE PROGRAM TO A SELF-SUSTAINING FINANCIAL MODEL. NUMBERS SERVED: THROUGH THE PERFORMANCE PERIOD OF THIS GRANT, 9/30/2023 – 9/29/2024, THE SETTLEMENT WILL PROVIDE SERVICES, WITH A STRONG EMPHASIS ON BILINGUAL, BI-CULTURAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, FOR 60 UNDUPLICATED YOUTH. THIS NUMBER DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FAMILY AND GROUP COUNSELING SERVICES THAT WILL BE PROVIDED.

PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS

TO SUPPORT THE FINAL DEVELOPMENT AND PREMIERE OF "THE PROMETHEUS PROJECT," A NEW PLAY FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES BY TOM ARVETIS.

TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION OF "SIGHT UNSEEN," THE SECOND PLAY IN "THE PROMETHEUS PROJECT."

TO SUPPORT ADVENTURE STAGE'S PRODUCTION OF "500 CLOWN NOSE" IN CONSORTIUM WITH CHICAGO'S 500 CLOWN.