February 08, 2023 Friends of the Children- Detroit Awarded $150,000 in Community Project Funding These federal funds are a first for Friends Detroit Friends Detroit is excited to highlight a first for our chapter: Friends Detroit has secured $150,000 in Community Project Funding (CPF)! Late last year, it was announced that U.S. Representative Brenda L. Lawrence (MI-14), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee secured funds for 15 Community Project Funding requests for Michigan’s 14th District . We are happy to announce that Friends of the Children- Detroit was a part of this list. The federal funds will go to support our pilot project Building Mental Health Services Capacity with a Professional Mentoring Model. This project supports the increase in demand for salaried, professional mentors to provide intensive wraparound and mental health support services, including system navigation, to underserved youth and their caregivers in the Detroit community. "Friends of the Children is grateful to Congresswoman Lawrence for her commitment to the mental health needs of Detroit’s children, especially those who face more obstacles than others accessing critical supports,” said Derschaun Brown, Executive Director of Friends of the Children - Detroit. “Even before the pandemic, youth and families in communities served by Friends of the Children faced barriers to accessing culturally responsive trauma mitigation and behavioral health supports. The increase in demand for salaried, professional mentors to provide increased access and engagement in mental health services is greater now than ever. This investment in Friends of the Children - Detroit will make a BIG difference for the health and well-being of hundreds of youth and caregivers. We thank you.”