IAM Strong Board of DIrectors with special Guests Native Run

Thank you from the

IAM Strong Foundation!

The IAM Strong Foundation, which seeks to shatter the stigma surrounding teen mental health struggles, was established in January of 2015.  Since that time, because of the generosity of so many, the organization has made significant strides in the field of mental health awareness.

This past Fall, the IAM Strong Foundation sponsored singer songwriter Meg Hutchinson and her sister Tess in a free presentation at The Norwood Theatre entitled “How We Got Through: A Conversation Between Sisters.”  The program addressed Meg’s journey with Bipolar 1 disorder and her sister’s role on the path to acceptance, healing, and recovery. Two weeks prior to the program, IAM Strong sponsored a free local screening of the Meg Hutchinson documentary “Pack Up Your Sorrows.”

One of the primary goals of the organization is to continue to open up the conversation about adolescent mental health, and the IAM Strong Foundation grant cycles have been an important way to do that. Through the funding of grants, IAM Strong is able to partner with surrounding communities and organizations. The very first grants funded, in the Fall of 2015, included the Thurston Middle School speaker series, “The Science of Growing Up,” which was funded in conjunction with the Foundation for Westwood Education. Another grant, entitled “Building Capacity: PD for the Mental Health Team," funded the attendance of a team of critical staff members from Thurston Middle School at the Mental Health and Education 2015 Conference.

IAM Strong Board of DIrectors at the 2nd Annual 5K in 2016

Last Spring, grants totaling $25,000 were awarded to four individuals and organizations, including the Boston Arts Academy High School, for mental health services for its high school age students, a grant for a local filmmaker’s multi media platform project to explore autism awareness, destigmatization, and services, a grant for the Judge Baker Children’s Center in Boston for comprehensive assessments for youth at risk, and a grant for the Norwood High School TASC program, to expand opportunities in the culinary arts, art therapy, and additional coping skills for students participating in the Therapeutic, Academic, Supportive Classroom program.

Our Fall 2016 grant cycle funded four more grants, including funding the development of an organizational tool for all freshman at Walpole High School with an emphasis on emotional and mental health and resources, funding mental health workshops for parents and families at the Mary Lyon School in Boston, funding the program “Unguarded: A Conversation with Chris Herren” for Westwood High School, focusing on addiction, sobriety, peer pressure, cutting, and bullying, and a grant for Families for Depression Awareness, to provide funding for the training of 50-100 teens, parents, and school staff to recognize teen depression and understand how to intervene.

In addition to the Fall 2016 grants, the IAM Strong Foundation is honored to be a key sponsor of the 2017 Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Partners in Prevention Wellness Summit, Teen Mental Health Summit, and Faces of Addiction Conference.

Coming up for IAM Strong is Messages of Hope at the Westwood Senior Center on February 26th, where people of all ages are invited to come and write inspirational cards and messages to teens undergoing inpatient psychiatric care. Also this Winter, the next grant cycle will open on February 1st, with a deadline of April 1st. The IAM Strong Foundation welcomes applications from all non profit organizations or affiliated individuals who have an idea for a grant in the field of adolescent mental health awareness.

All of our outreach and grant programs help to open up the conversation about adolescent mental health, and to erase the stigma associated with mental health struggles in teens. Without the generous support of the community we could not accomplish our mission, and for that, we offer our sincere gratitude.

RealTalkAdoption.com

Olivia Malcolmson, junior at The Loomis Chaffee School and recipient of an IAM Strong Foundation Grant, has created a website to support adopted teens and promote healthy conversations in their families. Realtalkadoption.com was launched in November 2018, which is also National Adoption Awareness Month. IAM Strong is honored to have been able to co-sponsor Olivia’s endeavor to provides resources and support to adoptees across the country. Check out the story in the Boston Globe to learn more about Olivia and her Real Talk Adoption Project.