HHS Launches the Children and Youth Resilience Challenge
May 05, 2023
Children and youth in the United States are experiencing a profound mental health crisis. The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory reports rising rates of psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and other emotional and behavioral symptoms among children and youth. Among youth ages 12 to 17 who experienced a major depressive episode, nearly half perceived that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected their mental health. Emergency department visits for mental health concerns have also increased significantly. These patterns are intensified among children and adolescents exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Promoting youth resilience—their ability to adapt in the face of adversity—is critical to avoiding long-term negative mental health outcomes.
The Resilience Challenge will award prizes to innovative, community-led solutions that:
Promote resilience and advance mental health and well-being
Reduce the risk for negative mental health outcomes among children and youth
Promote positive strategies and solutions that help children and youth thrive
Identify and elevate promising practices that promote culturally and linguistically responsive protective factors
The Resilience Challenge will include a proposal phase and a pilot phase for selected finalists. The 14 Phase 1 finalists will receive $25,000 each in the fall of 2023. One grand prize winner will receive $300,000 and up to two runners-up will receive $175,000 each in the spring of 2024.