The grant comes from the Valinhos Foundation, which is a mental health-focused organization aimed at serving children, young adults, and families throughout Indiana via mental wellbeing initiatives.
Indiana University South Bend has received a grant from the Valinhos Foundation to help provide mental health care to the campus community. The grant will be awarded over the next three years as the university’s Student Counseling Center sets up a framework for enhanced mental health services.
According to an article on Indiana University South Bend’s website, Kory Vitangeli, who serves as the university’s Vice Chancellor for Student Engagement, was quoted as saying of the grant award, “We are so excited about the amazing opportunities and resources that will be provided for students at IU South Bend through this generous grant. We are immensely grateful for the opportunity to work with the Valinhos Foundation and look forward to an incredible partnership.”
Using the grant funding, the university will introduce the Titan Stepped Care approach to mental health and wellness. This approach will include raising awareness of mental health issues alongside the university’s Mental Health Task Force, students, faculty, and community partners, hiring a Titan Care Manager to help students connect with community and campus resources, providing students with paid internship opportunities around campus that focus on mental health and wellness, and undergoing consultation and mentorship from The Jed Foundation to become a JED campus.
According to The Jed Foundation's website, the organization “strengthens schools by working directly with high schools, colleges, and universities — representing millions of students — to put systems, programs, and policies in place to create a culture of caring that protects student mental health, builds life skills, and makes it more likely that struggling students will seek help and be recognized, connected to care, and supported.”
Julie Veldman Harris, who serves as the executive director of the Valinhos Foundation, was quoted as saying of the Foundation’s grant to Indiana University South Bend, “This grant is an opportunity to support IU South Bend’s efforts to address the mental health and well-being of the student community. This grant fits with the goals of our foundation and will enable IU South Bend to prevent mental health challenges, increase the availability of care, and leverage evidence-based mental health care.”
For more information about Indiana University South Bend, visit the school’s website.