Originally Published by New York Life.
Recognizing the need for long-term local assistance for those who have experienced a natural disaster or act of mass violence, New York Life and the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities today announced the selection of 16 non-profit, community-based organizations to receive grants to continue their work in communities affected by disasters in 2017 and early 2018. These grants are part of a new program, “Building Resilience in the Face of Disaster,” jointly operated by New York Life and the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities that seeks to provide long-term emotional and mental health services and support for communities that have faced large-scale tragic events.
The selected grantees include:
| Name of Organization | Affected Communities |
| Hospice of Santa Barbara, Inc. | California Wildfires |
| UpValley Family Centers of Napa County | California Wildfires |
| YWCA Sonoma County | California Wildfires |
| AccessHealth | Hurricane Harvey |
| Baylor College of Medicine | Hurricane Harvey |
| Healthcare for the Homeless-Houston | Hurricane Harvey |
| Houston Galveston Institute | Hurricane Harvey |
| Ibn Sina Foundation | Hurricane Harvey |
| La Raza United | Hurricane Harvey |
| Center for Child Counseling, Inc. | Hurricane Irma |
| Jewish Community Services of South Florida, Inc. | Hurricane Irma; Parkland Shooting – Florida |
| Programa del Adolescente de Naranjito, Inc. | Hurricane Maria |
| University of Nevada Las Vegas Foundation | Las Vegas Shooting |
| Tuesday’s Children | Mass Shootings: Parkland, FL, Sutherland Springs, TX, & Las Vegas, NV |
| Children’s Bereavement Center | Parkland School Shooting |
| TGP International | Parkland School Shooting |
Each grantee will receive up to $50,000 as part of the $750,000 available through the program. Recipients were selected based on their level of experience and knowledge in trauma-informed care and/or grief support services; level of experience in providing support to individuals who have experienced tragedy; and plans to measure success, effectiveness, and impact. More than 90 organizations applied to the program.
“This program aligns closely with New York Life’s commitment as a company, which is to be there for people for the long-term, even when the unthinkable happens,” said Heather Nesle, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, New York Life. “After a disaster, the response is typically focused on addressing immediate needs or physical losses. The 16 grantees will help those traumatized by disaster, violence or loss to cope with long-term, ‘invisible’ grief, which can be detrimental if it’s not addressed.”
“This program reflects our continued focus at the Alliance to accelerate and integrate the latest in brain science research and trauma-informed care into social sector practice, policy and systems,” noted Susan N. Dreyfus, president and CEO of the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities. “By building resilience in the face of disaster, we can strengthen the capabilities of community-based organizations to promote the health and well-being of individuals, children, and families in the communities they serve.”
The grants, which are provided by New York Life, will be administered by New York Life in partnership with the Change in Mind Institute at the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities.
