Heartland organizations receive $48K in grants to improve youth mental health

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) - The Community Counseling Center and Cape Girardeau Public Schools Foundation received nearly $48,000 in grants on March 18 to help improve mental health in area youth.

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According to a release, the funding was made possible thanks to the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, in partnership with the Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Charitable Foundation and Commerce Trust.

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A $25,000 grant to the Community Counseling Center helps establish Hope Squads, a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program, for the Perry County and Jackson School Districts.

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A $22,975 grant to Cape Girardeau Public Schools Foundation supports the district’s Family Mental Health Awareness events and Hope Squad training and will provide additional counseling services during the school year and summer.

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“Knowing that the increased suicide rate for youth in rural communities is often due to lack of access to resources, these grants are vitally important,” said Jill Reynolds, senior vice president at Commerce Trust. “We’re grateful to support the good work of these agencies to ensure brighter futures for the youth in their communities.”

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A total of $250,000 was granted to different organizations across central and southern Missouri through the Coover Regional Youth Mental Health Grant Program--which supports mental health initiatives for youth from birth to age 21 in rural communities.

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Originally published online at https://www.kfvs12.com/2025/03/27/heartland-organizations-receive-48k-grants-improve-youth-mental-health/

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