Immediate Support, Lasting Impact

Community safety

Central LA East LA South LA West LA

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

At Green Dot Public Schools, we understand that academic success is deeply linked to student wellbeing—particularly mental health. Our students, many of whom are Black or Latinx and come from communities impacted by poverty, racial injustice, and violence, face disproportionately high rates of trauma. On average, students referred for mental health evaluation at our schools have endured seven distinct traumatic events and exhibit symptoms consistent with PTSD. Yet nationwide, less than half of students from similar backgrounds report receiving adequate social-emotional support. We are addressing this critical gap by providing school-based, culturally responsive mental health services that meet students where they are—ensuring they can heal, learn, and thrive.

This grant will support Green Dot Public Schools’ comprehensive, school-based mental health program, which delivers trauma-informed care to students in historically underserved communities. A cornerstone of this initiative is our groundbreaking implementation of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy—an evidence-based, gold-standard treatment for PTSD that is typically cost-prohibitive and inaccessible to many families we serve. With this therapy and other critical interventions, our mental health team provides thousands of services annually, including intensive crisis support, safety planning, and individualized counseling. Originally funded through a five-year, $12.5 million federal grant, this transformative program is now at risk due to an early termination of funding by the U.S. Department of Education—resulting in a $5 million shortfall. This grant will ensure that we can retain our full mental health team and continue to deliver life-saving care to our most vulnerable students.

If our work is successful, Los Angeles County will be home to a more resilient, healthy, and equitable generation of young people—especially in communities historically impacted by trauma, poverty, and systemic injustice. Students who once struggled with the invisible weight of PTSD, depression, and chronic stress will have access to timely, culturally responsive mental health care, allowing them to heal, engage in school, and pursue their full potential. By embedding groundbreaking therapies like EMDR directly into schools, we are not only addressing mental health disparities but also creating a replicable model for school-based mental health that can be adopted across the county and beyond. The long-term impact will be lower dropout rates, stronger academic achievement, and a healthier, more empowered youth population prepared to shape the future of Los Angeles.