Munson Healthcare today announced a gift of $10,000 to the Behavioral Health Initiative (BHI) to strengthen youth mental health services in the area. The gift will bolster two community-based solutions within the Northern Michigan Community Health Innovation Region (CHIR): MIFamily Resources Network and Therapy Corps.
“As a nonprofit healthcare system, Munson is committed to reinvesting in our community with trusted partners who are directly addressing the needs – including mental health – identified through our Community Health Needs Assessment,” said Laura Glenn, Chief Operating Officer for Munson Healthcare. “Munson has a long history of working alongside the Behavioral Health Initiative and this gift builds on that partnership to expand access, close gaps in care, and better support youth and families across northern Michigan.”
- MIFamily Resources Network, developed in collaboration with over 30 partners, connects families to local resources from prenatal through age 17—through an easy-to-navigate, curated website. Built from parent-led focus groups, the platform pairs local resource listings with practical, trustworthy guidance, including developmental milestones, early signs of mental health concerns, pathways to assessments, home visiting, parenting support, and more.
- Munson’s support will also advance Therapy Corps, a new program the BHI plans to launch later this year that helps train clinicians to obtain required hours while expanding mental health support for local youth. Too few clinicians are accepting Medicaid and a training pipeline to meet the required clinical hours will help.
“Our work is focused on building community-based solutions that make it easier for families to find the support they need,” said Pennie Foster Fishman, Ph.D., lead of the Behavioral Health Initiative. “With this contribution from Munson Healthcare, we can strengthen tools like MIFamily Resources Network and Therapy Corps, helping ensure that children and families have access to meaningful, effective support well before a crisis arises.”