The Cigna Group Foundation launches multiyear youth mental-health grants, supports Oakland school health services

Cigna Foundation launches targeted multiyear youth mental health grants

The Cigna Group Foundation opens its 2026 Improving Youth Mental Health grant program, inviting U.S. nonprofits to apply through March 12 at 5:00 p.m. ET for multiyear support aimed at rising youth mental health needs. The foundation is focusing funding on community-based organizations that serve children ages 5–18 and the adults who support them — parents, caregivers, teachers and coaches — and is prioritizing evidence‑informed social‑emotional learning (SEL) in schools and afterschool settings, trauma‑informed services tailored to children’s lived experiences, and family–school partnerships that strengthen adult–child collaboration.

Applicants must request $150,000 this year, reflecting the foundation’s emphasis on deeper, concentrated impact, and must deliver services in at least one of 10 priority states: Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas. The program builds on the foundation’s existing $9 million multiyear commitment to youth mental health and ties grant awards to measurable outcomes, scalability and the ability to engage families and schools. The foundation pairs financial awards with employee volunteering to extend local impact; staff volunteers already mentor elementary students in St. Louis as part of ongoing community partnerships.

Ellie Polack, president of The Cigna Group Foundation, frames the initiative as an urgent, compassionate response to unprecedented needs and stresses investment in community organizations specializing in SEL, trauma‑informed care and family–school collaboration so children receive support “when they need it.” Applications are evaluated on evidence base, scalability and capacity to leverage local partnerships and employee volunteerism; successful programs will receive concentrated funding intended to demonstrate measurable improvements in student wellbeing and sustainability across the priority states.

Cigna Healthcare offers health services at Oakland school event

On Feb. 3, 2026, Love Thy Neighbor CDC presents its ninth annual Dreams Grow Here event at Burckhalter Elementary School in Oakland, where more than 200 Pre‑K through fifth‑grade students receive sports, wellness and educational activities during Super Bowl week. Presenting partner Cigna Healthcare deploys its Wellness In Motion mobile clinic to provide free health screenings and skin cancer checks for parents and staff, plus free eye exams and glasses for students, as part of a nine‑year effort that reaches thousands of children and educators.

Community investments yield lasting campus improvements

The event unveils permanent campus upgrades including a new soccer turf field, an adaptive agility mat, an on‑site food pantry and a community mural, reflecting nearly $745,000 in funding and resources delivered to participating schools over the program’s history. Organizers say the model — combining athletic programming, health services, and school supports with corporate and NFL partnerships — creates sustained momentum and a platform for scaling investments in host communities.