Needham Schools Share Grant Money to Strengthen Mental Health Interventions

The MetroWest Health Foundation announced Thursday, June 5, that awarded a $1.28 million in grants to 20 area organizations. 

These grants are in line with the foundation’s focus on adolescent health and center primarily on helping area school systems address the mental health needs of adolescents. 

Four area high schools, Assabet Valley Regional Technical School, Blackstone Valley Vocational Technical School, Lincoln-Sudbury High School and Milford High School (Wayside Youth & Family Support Network) will share in $831,000 over three years to replicate the Brookline Resilient Youth Team model within their schools. That program provides clinical care and support, help for families and facilitates communication with mental health clinicians, students and teachers. 

Three other public school systems, Framingham, Natick and Needham will share $182,000 over one year to also strengthen mental health interventions for students within their respective schools. 

The foundation’s focus on the mental health needs of students follows data from the 2012 MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey showing that 
20 percent of the region’s high school and 13 percent of middle school students reported having depressive symptoms in the past 12 months. 

“Many school districts are concerned with the social and emotional health of students. These grants will allow proven interventions to be expanded within these school systems helping to address the mental health needs of all students.” said Martin Cohen, the foundation’s president. 

Organizations receiving grants this year are: 

Advocates, Inc. $12,242
Jail Diversion Program Operations Manual 
 
Advocates, Inc. $72,358.68
Mental Health Services in a Pediatric Health Home 
 
Ashland Public Schools $9,275
Effort to Reduce Marijuana Use

Assabet Valley Regional Technical School $210,000
Assabet Valley CARES 
 
Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional School District $180,000
The BVT Bridge Program 
 
Brandon Residential Treatment Center, Inc. $20,000
CARE for MetroWest Youth & Families 
 
Dover-Sherborn Regional Schools $12,600
Targeting Alcohol Use Among High School Students 
 
Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, Inc. $28,700
Bringing PACE to the MetroWest Area 
 
Edwards Church, United Church of Christ $2,500
Metrowest Vet Center Community Access Point 
 
Framingham Public Schools $20,000
Acknowledging Boys: Teen Pregnancy Prevention 
 
Framingham Public Schools $74,425
High School Clinical Care Coordination

Jewish Family Service of Metrowest $44,587
Enhanced Medical Escort Program 
 
Lincoln Sudbury Regional School $220,500
Transition Program 
 
Medfield Council on Aging $20,198.88 
Adult Respite Care Program 
 
Natick Public Schools $73,450
Skills for Success Program 
 
Needham Public Schools $35,471
Tiers of Intervention 
 
Reach Beyond Domestic Violence Inc $22,077
Peers Against Violence in Wayland 
 
Southborough Fire/EMS Department $8,250
Advanced Simulator Manikin 
 
United Way of Tri-County $15,960
Senior Food Security Project 
 
Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, Inc. $200,487.91
The Milford Student Assessment & Intervention Program

The MetroWest Health Foundation is a catalyst for a healthy MetroWest, providing more than $5 million in annual financial support for preventative and responsive health programs. Through its work on issues such as adolescent health, healthy aging and access to care, the foundation seeks to develop and support programs that have a positive impact on the health of the 25 communities in the MetroWest area of Massachusetts. 

To date, the foundation, based in Framingham, has provided more than $43 million in financial support that helps residents and their families lead healthier lives.