bi3 invests nearly $7M to improve youth mental health

A new teen arts center, expanded youth programming in Cincinnati’s West End and a youth-led hub for children involved in the welfare system are among the projects receiving millions in new funding aimed at improving youth mental health across Greater Cincinnati.

The bi3 Fund announced Monday it is investing nearly $7 million in youth wellbeing initiatives, including $5.3 million in grants to four organizations creating “third spaces” for young people and an additional $1.5 million commitment to Hopeful Empowered Youth (HEY!), a regional initiative focused on long-term mental health strategies.

bi3, a nonprofit that invests in health equity and innovation across Hamilton, Butler, Clermont and Warren counties, used HEY! to invite local teens and young people to play a role in shaping the funding priorities.

“We need to invest more in prevention,” said Jill Miller, the grantmaking organization’s president and CEO. “To promote a culture of mental wellness among our youth, we need to genuinely listen to them and trust their ability to help create solutions.”

Youth-driven investments

The grants focus on expanding “third spaces,” or places outside home and school where young people can build relationships, access support and feel connected.

bi3 created the HEY! Needs Assessment to give young people a chance to share what they need and want from their communities. One respondent, an 18-year-old wrote that “People don’t have a strong community. People don’t know there are means to get to where you want to go. I think isolation and lack of community takes that away[.] Feeling like you are in [a] community that cares about me makes me do well.”

Youth leaders also played a direct role in deciding where the money would go, serving on a review committee that helped shape and recommend the final awards.

The four nonprofit grant recipients are:

• Adventure Crew, which received $1 million to support The Renewal Project, a youth-designed indoor and outdoor campus focused on leadership, connection and nature-based experiences.
• Found Village, which received $1.5 million to launch The Imagination Center in Norwood, a youth-led space for young people across Hamilton County involved in the child welfare system focused on belonging, safety and access to trusted adults.
• Kennedy Heights Arts Center, which received $1.366 million to create a Teen Arts Center offering free creative programming, mentorship and trauma-informed wellness support.
• Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, which received $1.5 million to expand youth programming in the West End through the Youth Power Project, focused on leadership, workforce development, wellness and mental health support.

Together, bi3 believes the initiatives will engage thousands of young people across the region over the next three years.

Long-term regional strategy

Beyond the four grants, bi3 is investing $1.5 million over three years into HEY!, building on a previous $1 million investment in the collaborative.

HEY! brings together youth, families, educators, healthcare providers and community leaders around a 10-year strategy focused on improving youth mental health outcomes, increasing belonging and strengthening connections with trusted adults.

“Feeling connected, having a sense of belonging, and having trusted relationships are crucial for their wellbeing,” Miller said. “It’s inspiring to witness the remarkable results when communities and young people work together to create change.”