SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Indiana University South Bend Student Counseling Center was awarded a three-year transformative grant through the locally based Valinhos Foundation. 

This grant will allow the university to begin to implement an expanded mental health framework to increase support for the campus community. 

“We are so excited about the amazing opportunities and resources that will be provided for students at IU South Bend through this generous grant,” said Vice Chancellor for Student Engagement Kory Vitangeli. “We are immensely grateful for the opportunity to work with the Valinhos Foundation and look forward to an incredible partnership.”

The funding is set to establish a stepped-care approach for access to mental health care, support, and community resources. The services will be available for students who are experiencing financial or emotional distress, or lack of family support.

“This grant is an opportunity to support IU South Bend’s efforts to address the mental health and well-being of the student community,” said Julie Veldman Harris, executive director of the Valinhos Foundation. “This grant fits with the goals of our foundation and will enable IU South Bend to prevent mental health challenges, increase the availability of care, and leverage evidence-based mental health care.”