SAINT HELENA, Calif. — The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) has announced a significant expansion of its commitment to youth mental health, with an additional $2.5 million investment aimed at supporting school-age children across Napa County. This funding is part of NVV’s philanthropic program, Collective Napa Valley, which directs resources to impactful community initiatives.
Donna Walker, grants review committee chair for the Napa Valley Vintners and proprietor of Pulido~Walker Estate Vineyard and Winery, emphasized the collective power of the initiative: “Thanks to the generous supporters of Collective Napa Valley, we can deeply invest in the well-being of Napa County’s youth. The program’s strength lies in its ability to amplify individual donations to create a larger impact within our community.”
A comprehensive community needs assessment conducted by a third-party firm revealed a pressing youth mental health crisis locally, reflecting a broader national trend. In response, NVV has committed to a multi-year initiative designed to develop sustainable solutions for this crisis.
The Youth Mental Health Initiative launched by NVV is focused on providing support across multiple settings: schools, communities, and homes. Key goals include eliminating barriers and stigma surrounding mental health, increasing capacity, amplifying youth voices, and ensuring access to affordable, quality mental health services. The initiative also aims to equip parents and community members with tools to recognize when external help is needed, establish wellness hubs on school campuses, and enhance collaboration among schools, local governments, and nonprofits.
Earlier this year, NVV allocated $1 million to support the development of the Mentis campus, which will expand mental health prevention and treatment services for youth in Napa. Since 2022, NVV has invested a total of $5 million in youth mental health initiatives. Over its 40-plus-year history, NVV has contributed more than $230 million to community health and children’s well-being throughout Napa Valley, from American Canyon to Calistoga. This latest round of funding underscores NVV’s ongoing dedication to addressing significant community challenges.
The $2.5 million investment will be distributed as follows:
$1 Million to SHINE Napa Valley: This collaborative initiative enhances the collective impact of youth mental health providers in Napa Valley. The additional funding will support the establishment of two new wellness centers and deepen service capacity across existing sites. It will also fund a campaign to reduce stigma around mental health and encourage youth to seek therapy, as well as support grant writing efforts for additional funding.
$300,000 to Aldea: This grant will fund bilingual mental health treatment services and substance abuse support. Programs are designed to improve the emotional and academic functioning of students, provide family support, and offer aftercare services.
$300,000 to Mentis: The funding will be used to provide bilingual, affordable mental health services. It will support prevention programs, facilitate discussions about mental health, promote local resources, teach coping skills, and offer suicide prevention training.
$300,000 to On The Move: This grant will support programming that addresses inequities and assists vulnerable community members. Services will include intake, coping skills and self-care tools, and support for LGBTQ, LatinX, and foster youth.
$300,000 to Napa Valley Education Foundation: The funding will help conduct behavioral health screenings in schools, identify students in need of support, and analyze wider trends. It will also support the annual Wellness Center Conference and provide a platform for youth to discuss mental health issues.
$300,000 to UpValley Family Center: As a key resource for low-income communities in northern Napa Valley, this grant will support school wellness centers, conduct prevention groups for teens, manage intake and screening, provide referrals and interventions, and offer parent and family services to support students.
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