In support of President Biden’s Unity Strategy and Mental Health Agenda, along with HHS’ Roadmap for Behavioral Health Integration, a federal prize competition aims to promote innovative community-based initiatives to enhance resilience and advance children and youth behavioral health.
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the winners of the HHS Children and Youth Resilience Challenge, a $1 million federal prize competition launched in May 2023. The initiative seeks to identify and elevate promising community-based programs that improve psychological resilience among children and youth.
“These community leaders continue to inspire me and countless others across the country,” said HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm. “The determination and community insight of our winners, and all who participated, provide us with an opportunity to spotlight and implement effective solutions to address the ongoing behavioral health crisis and deliver real results for children and youth.”
The Grand Prize winner of $300,000 is Students Run Philly Style (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). Their sports-based mentorship MileUp Program helps students in grades 6-12 build resilience as they work toward their long-distance running goals. In partnership with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, this program supports youth on their path away from the juvenile justice system through measures such as paid restitution, dropped charges, and record expungement.
“Our winner exemplifies community partnership and mentorship that will challenge and motivate students to become mentally and physically resilient,” said Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine. “This versatile initiative inspires community leaders and provides us an opportunity at the federal level to share and promote this innovative approach across the country.”
The two Runner Up winners of $175,000 each are the Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies (New Orleans, Louisiana) with its Bounce Back program using arts for healing youth participants' resilience; and the Excellence & Advancement Foundation (Austin, Texas), which leads the Travis County Transformation Project alongside Amala Foundation, LifeWorks, Travis County District Attorney’s Office, Juvenile Probation Department, local law enforcement. This project uses restorative justice processes to divert youth from criminal legal systems while providing counseling.
“These transformative programs will bring meaningful healing and change to communities,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs Jessica Marcella. “One common theme among these innovative initiatives is that they create hopeful opportunities for youth within their communities by intentionally partnering with them.”
The Challenge was a cross-agency collaboration including entities like the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of Planning & Evaluation, Administration for Children & Families (ACF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
More than 500 applicants proposed projects under this Challenge aimed at bolstering young people's psychological well-being nationwide. After a competitive review process awarding 14 finalists $25K each in August 2023 - supported by intensive technical assistance - they piloted innovations between September 2023-May 2024 before judges selected overall winners based on reports detailing experiences/impacts during pilot phases.
“We look forward to successful growth/implementation all these projects,” said ACF Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Jeff Hild adding: "This is only beginning; all challenge finalists motivated/innovative/resilient continuing rising addressing needs children/youth communities nationwide."
Visit Children & Youth Resilience Challenge website learn more about background/structure Challenge.
Watch Children & Youth Resilience Summit video featuring award winners/finalists presenting work at Summit held May 2-3rd '24.
