Puerto Rican youth have endured a series of traumatic events in recent years, from Hurricane Maria to the COVID-19 pandemic, with limited access to mental health care, particularly in rural areas. The need for trauma-informed support in schools has never been more urgent.
The William T. Grant Foundation, committed to reducing inequality and advancing research that improves the lives of young people, is supporting The Building Resilience Project. This island-wide initiative aims to address the mental health needs of Puerto Rican students through school-based interventions grounded in evidence and compassion.
Led by Victor Carrión, MD, director of the Stanford Early Life Stress and Resilience Program, and Nuria Sabaté, MD, of Ponce Health Sciences University in Puerto Rico, the project will implement two key programs across 40 schools: Start with the Heart, a mindfulness and movement curriculum for all students, and cue-centered therapy, a treatment for students with moderate to severe post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. The interventions will be delivered in schools serving students in grades 6-12. The findings they collect will be shared with local and national stakeholders to support sustainable, systemic changes in how schools respond to trauma.
Thank you, William T. Grant Foundation, for your belief in this work that is helping build a more resilient future for Puerto Rico’s children and communities.
