The MolinaCares Accord Provides $100,000 Grant to Lurie Children’s in Support of Statewide School Mental Health Initiative

Funding will assist Resilience-Supportive Schools Illinois (RSSI) in improving student and educator well-being through data-informed practices

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The MolinaCares Accord (“MolinaCares”), in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of Illinois (“Molina”), presented $100,000 to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago’s Center for Childhood Resilience (“Lurie Children’s”) in support of Resilience-Supportive Schools Illinois (RSSI), a statewide initiative that equips schools with data-driven tools and resources to improve student and educator mental health and well-being.

Led by Lurie Children’s and a coalition of statewide partners, RSSI provides free, voluntary support to schools across Illinois to help educators build supportive, trauma-responsive and healing centered learning environments. The initiative connects school teams with school-specific data, professional learning, and evidence-informed resources to strengthen student resilience and improve outcomes.

More than 800 schools across Illinois have already completed the RSSI screener survey, with thousands of educators accessing tools and training through the Learning and Resource Hub. By completing the survey, schools receive actionable insights into their strengths and areas for growth across key categories such as mental health, social and emotional learning, and trauma-responsive, healing-centered practices, along with tailored resources to support improvement.

“RSSI represents what is possible when partners across education, health care, and community systems come together with a bold shared vision,” said Dr. Mashana Smith, clinical-community psychologist, associate director of school mental health at the Center for Childhood Resilience, and director of Resilience-Supportive Schools Illinois. “We are grateful to Molina for their leadership and investment, which helps ensure schools are equipped to translate data into action and better support student mental health.”

As Illinois prepares to implement universal mental health screening for students statewide, RSSI offers a ready-to-use framework to interpret data and translate it into meaningful supports.

“Investments like this are critical to ensuring Illinois schools and staff have the resources they need to support student well-being,” said Illinois State Representative Debbie Meyers-Martin. “By bringing together health care and education partners, we can strengthen how we support children and families across Illinois.”

“At Marya Yates Elementary in Matteson, Illinois, RSSI has helped us better understand our students’ needs and take meaningful action,” said Dr. Amber Henderson, principal. “The combination of data and practical resources has strengthened how we support our students and build a positive school environment. When students feel safe and supported, they can truly learn and thrive.”

MolinaCares’ funding will support continued implementation of RSSI statewide, including strengthening infrastructure, advancing data-informed practices, and expanding awareness so more schools can benefit from the program.

“This investment reflects Molina’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve,” said Kris Classen, plan president, Molina Healthcare of Illinois. “Schools play a critical role in supporting young people, and RSSI provides a practical, data-informed approach that helps educators respond to student needs early and effectively.”

Schools and districts across Illinois can participate in RSSI at no cost by completing the screener survey and accessing the Learning and Resource Hub at www.rss-illinois.net.

About The MolinaCares Accord

Established by Molina Healthcare, Inc., The MolinaCares Accord oversees a community investment platform created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities. The MolinaCares Accord funds such measures through the Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc.

About Molina Healthcare of Illinois

Molina Healthcare of Illinois, Inc. provides government-funded, quality health care, serving members through Medicaid, Medicare, and Marketplace programs in Illinois. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and through state insurance marketplaces. For more information about Molina Healthcare of Illinois, visit MolinaHealthcare.com.

About Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is a nonprofit organization committed to providing access to exceptional care for every child. It is the only independent, research-driven children's hospital in Illinois and one of less than 35 nationally. This is where the top doctors go to train, practice pediatric medicine, teach, advocate, research and stay up to date on the latest treatments. Exclusively focused on children, all Lurie Children’s resources are devoted to serving their needs. Research at Lurie Children’s is conducted through Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, which is focused on improving child health, transforming pediatric medicine and ensuring healthier futures through the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Lurie Children’s is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. It is ranked as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

About The Center for Childhood Resilience

The Center for Childhood Resilience (CCR) is the public health arm of Lurie Children’s Hospital Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. CCR's diverse multidisciplinary team of psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, educators, researchers and support staff increases access to the mental health supports young people need by educating and building support capacity for the adults and caregivers in children’s lives. Since 2004, CCR has worked in the communities where kids live, learn and play to support their social, emotional and mental well-being through expanding evidence-informed programs and practices, civic advocacy, and other innovative, sustainable strategies that promote equity and reduce disparities.