LETTER FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND BOARD PRESIDENT
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he past two years have been like no other we can remember. COVID-19 has had a significant toll on our collective mental health. As so many children faced unprecedented social isolation and traumatic stress, and have dealt with the sudden loss of loved ones, IMH shifted its grantmaking to focus specifically on addressing
the mental health needs of children that had been exacerbated by the pandemic. We worked with dozens of nonprofit partners to respond to the emerging needs of the moment. We held a special grantmaking cycle in the fall of 2020 to help our non-profit partners meet the increased demand for mental health services and supports for vulnerable children during COVID-19. We made 21 grants totaling more than $600,000 as part of this COVID-response effort. This contributed to a total of $1,116,687.50 in grants awarded over the past two years. These grants focused on strengthening the ability of schools to provide mental health supports to young people through COVID, strengthening community-based supports for young people who couldn’t access mental health services in more traditional ways through school and other community institutions due to COVID, and providing trauma-informed supports for mothers and young children. Investments in 2021 focused on supporting trauma-informed practices and social emotional learning in schools and early childhood settings and ensuring bilingual and culturally responsive services. Amidst it all, we also welcomed three new board members: Caleb Didriksen, J.D., Krystal Vaughn, Ph.D., and Aqua Stovall. They bring deep expertise in law, play therapy, and special education to our board. We look forward to continuing our work in 2022 to promote the optimal mental health for children and their families in New Orleans.
D A V I D F R A N C I S R O N A L D P . M C C L A I N Board President Executive Director
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