Vernon Township Community Mental Health Board Awards $1 Million in Grants

The Vernon Township Community Mental Health Board (VTCMHB) has awarded $1,045,122 in its third round of Community Grant funding to support critical services for Township residents. The grants, issued last month, were given to 23 nonprofit social service agencies, with two additional organizations pending approval, that provide services related to mental health, substance abuse and developmental disabilities.

Grant recipients include: Cancer Wellness Center, The Center for Enriched Living, Clearbrook, Erie Family Health Centers, Southeast Lake County Faith in Action, GiGi's Playhouse in Deerfield, Glenkirk, Hanul Family Alliance, KAN-WIN, Lambs Farm, Lauri Bauer Foundation for Sudden Loss, Little City Foundation, Nicasa Behavioral Health Services, OMNI Youth Services, Riverside Foundation, A Safe Place, Sanjeevani 4U, Second Nurture, Shelter Inc., Special Recreation Association of Central Lake County, The Josselyn Center, Willow House, and Youth & Family Counseling.

These organizations play a vital role in delivering direct support to individuals and families who live in the Township and need the services they provide. The Community Grants Program is a cornerstone of the VTCMHB mission to responsibly manage taxes earmarked to help support nonprofit agencies that meet strict standards for service delivery, financial transparency and accountability.

“Our Board is committed to ensuring that cost is not a barrier to essential care,” said VTCMHB President Noelle Moore. “These grants ensure that vital services remain accessible to the people who need them most. We’re proud to support organizations that continue to uplift and strengthen our community.”

As Vernon Township’s local mental health authority, the Board funds and coordinates services under the Community Mental Health Act (405 ILCS 20/1) in the areas of mental wellness, substance use prevention and recovery, and services for those who are developmentally delayed. Over the two years since it was established, the VTCMHB has remained focused on helping to reduce the stigma around receiving treatment, while increasing awareness of available support to make services more accessible.

For more information on the VTCMHB, visit www.vernontownship.com/286/Mental-Health-Board.