CHDI Receives $150,000 Grant from The Cigna Group Foundation to Expand Access to School-Based Peer Support Program
MEDIA RELEASE
Media Contact: Shannon Houston, CHDI Director of Communications
CONNECTICUT - CHDI has been awarded a grant of $150,000 from The Cigna Group Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI), to help address the youth mental health crisis by expanding access to an innovative school-based peer support program in Connecticut.
Students Supporting Students (SSS) is a school-based peer support model designed to empower middle and high school youth to recognize mental health symptoms, reduce stigma, and promote help-seeking behaviors. Activities will include staff and student training and ongoing technical assistance to empower student peer support teams to develop and lead events, educational materials, and awareness campaigns at their schools.
“With this generous grant from The Cigna Group Foundation, we will be able to empower youth across Connecticut to play a lead role in improving mental health knowledge, reducing stigma, and increasing mental health support in schools,” said Jeff Vanderploeg, PhD, President and CEO of CHDI. “We are grateful for The Cigna Group Foundation’s support in this mission.”
“In Connecticut, with over half of school-aged youth classified as ‘high need’ and many schools operating below recommended staffing levels for mental health support staff, this program addresses an urgent need,” added Jamie LoCurto, PhD, a senior associate at CHDI and the project’s director.
“Local nonprofits continue to be a tremendous source of support for kids and teens grappling with mental health issues, and we are thrilled to team up with CHDI to advance their student peer support program that will help with post-pandemic stress among youth,” said Melissa Skottegaard, board chair, The Cigna Group Foundation. “The youth mental health crisis continues to weigh heavily on our communities, and it is our privilege to partner with trusted nonprofits to continue this important work.”
According to an analysis by The Cigna Group’s Evernorth Research Institute, the number of young people with mental health conditions has increased 28% since 2018, and the number of young people with at least two mental health diagnoses has risen 48% over the same period.
Inadequate levels of social and emotional functioning are increasingly recognized as central to many public health problems, and more than two out of three children and adolescents experience trauma by age 16.
The Cigna Group Foundation has a long history of impactful partnerships with nonprofits, and in 2024 announced a philanthropic and community engagement initiative committing more than $27 million in grants over three years to nonprofit organizations focused on improving youth mental health, improving veteran mental health, and reducing barriers to health equity.
Learn more about the Students Supporting Students program
View additional details about The Cigna Group Foundation's youth mental health grant program
About the Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI)
The Child Health and Development Institute is a nonprofit organization providing a bridge to better and more equitable behavioral health and well-being for children, youth, and families. We collaborate with policymakers, providers, and partners to transform child-serving systems, disseminate evidence-based and best practices, and advance policy solutions that result in better outcomes for children in Connecticut and beyond. Learn more at www.chdi.org.
About The Cigna Group
The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) is a global health company committed to creating a better future built on the vitality of every individual and every community. We relentlessly challenge ourselves to partner and innovate solutions for better health. The Cigna Group includes products and services marketed under Cigna Healthcare, Evernorth Health Services or its subsidiaries. The Cigna Group maintains sales capabilities in more than 30 countries and jurisdictions and has more than 180 million customer relationships around the world. Learn more at thecignagroup.com.
About The Cigna Group Foundation
The Cigna Group Foundation is a private foundation funded by contributions from The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) and its subsidiaries. The Cigna Group Foundation aims to support, collaborate, and convene with nonprofit organizations addressing society's greatest health challenges. In addition to increasing access to programs and care in geographies demonstrating significant need, the Foundation responds with humanitarian aid relief during critical times and strengthens colleagues' support of causes through matching donations and volunteer rewards. To learn more, visit www.thecignagroup.com/community.
Advancing school mental health
CHDI partners with schools and districts to support student mental health and well-being by building schools' capacity to prevent, identify, and address behavioral health concerns.