Through its Youth Mental Health, Connectedness, and Resilience initiative, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation invests in upstream, community-based approaches that strengthen the environments where young children and their families live, grow, and connect as a foundation for lifelong mental health and well-being.
Across North Carolina, parents and caregivers of young children experience high levels of stress, isolation, and difficulty accessing support. One in three parents report feeling lonely, and more than a quarter report having no one to turn to for support. While services exist, these supports are often fragmented and difficult to navigate, highlighting the need for more connected, community-rooted approaches.
The foundation is issuing a funding opportunity to support local partnerships led by trusted community-based organizations that better connect, strengthen, and enhance existing mental health and well-being services for caregivers. This effort focuses on integrating and aligning existing resources to improve caregiver well-being, increase social connection, and strengthen pathways to clinical mental health care when needed.
Up to five grants of $450,000 will be awarded and paid over three years to partnerships that demonstrate strong community trust, meaningful collaboration, and the ability to strengthen coordination across systems of support for caregivers of young children (prenatal to age five).
Applications are due by 5pm ET on August 24, 2026. Grantees will be selected and notified on October 5, 2026.