Marquette, MI – The Superior Health Foundation Board of Directors is proud to announce the approval of $548,477.49 for year two of its Proactive Pediatric Mental Health Grants to organizations addressing pressing mental health needs of youth across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. These grants reflect SHF’s ongoing commitment to improving access to care for vulnerable populations and providing life-changing support in underserved regions. The funds granted across year one and year two of these projects, in collaboration with the Michigan Health Endowment Fund and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Michigan, total $1,270,543.42.
Unite UP, based in Houghton, is among the awarded organizations, which received $18,561.00 to support the Thriving Minds: Expanding Access to Infant Mental Health Services Program. This initiative, funded in partnership with Copper Shores Community Health Foundation, aims to expand access to essential mental health services for children aged 0-6, educate caregivers, and establish a resource network in the Upper Peninsula.
Another grant was awarded to Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine. It received $271,860.00 in a second year of funding for UP-TEACH, a program dedicated to training UP-based primary care providers to identify at-risk youth through mental health screenings. UP-TEACH equips providers to deliver brief, evidence-based interventions during patient visits, addressing mental health concerns early. The project also aims to strengthen the referral pipeline, ensuring youth with complex mental health needs have access to specialized care. This continued funding supports vital efforts to improve mental health outcomes for young people across the Upper Peninsula.
Additional funds were allocated to a variety of innovative programs, each aimed at addressing mental health challenges, improving access to mental health care, and expanding youth services across the region. “These grants are crucial for fostering long-term, sustainable change within the Upper Peninsula’s healthcare landscape. SHF’s focus on mental health initiatives, particularly for children and adolescents, underscores its dedication to creating healthier communities for future generations,” said Superior Health Foundation CEO Megan Murphy.
A complete list of awards can be found below.
- Catholic Social Services of the Upper Peninsula – Marquette – Child Centered Expressive Therapy Services, $25,000.00
- Great Lakes Recovery Centers, Inc. – Ishpeming – Day Treatment Program, $80,000.00
- Marquette-Alger RESA – Marquette – School-Based Universal Mental Health Screening – A Pilot Project, $7,696.00
- Marquette-Alger RESA – Marquette – Upper Peninsula Wellness Task Force, $20,000
- Michigan State University – Department of Pediatrics and Human Development – East Lansing, MI – UP Teach, $271,860.00
- Unite UP – Houghton – Thriving Minds: Expanding Access to Infant Mental Health Services, $18,561.00
- Upper Peninsula Health Care Solutions, Inc – Marquette – Upper Peninsula Behavioral Health Network (UP-BHN) Hub and Spoke Pilot, $125,360.49
For more information, please contact the Superior Health Foundation at [email protected].