Supporting Mental Health Services That Lead to Positive Changes

Supporting Mental Health Services That Lead to Positive Changes

July 3, 2024

Three years ago, Tabitha was referred to Family Focus, a nonprofit that provides family support services, including home visits, emergency assistance and educational programs, to improve the health and wellness in the communities it serves.

Then a mother in her mid-20s who had experienced domestic abuse, Tabitha was determined to find the emotional security and support she and her daughter needed and found the confidence to pursue her dream of becoming a licensed therapist.

"Therapy has honestly been one of the best things that has happened in my life," says Tabitha, an addiction counselor. "We all have some trauma. We all have a story to tell. I want my daughter to be able to write her own book and for those pages to mean something."

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and the NASCAR Foundation contributed $30,000 to Family Focus to help advance its efforts. More than two dozen Family Focus employees and clients, including Tabitha, attended an event at Family Focus's Lawndale center, where BCBSIL and NASCAR Chicago Street Race leaders presented a check to Dara Munson, the nonprofit's president and CEO.

"Today's collaboration with NASCAR Chicago and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is proof of our shared commitment to community well-being," Munson said. "Together we are addressing the critical challenge of creating emotional wellness, mental health access, particularly in under-resourced areas where financial constraints often pose barriers to essential care for the families who need it the most."

BCBSIL is a founding partner of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend. The second annual event takes place July 6 - 7 in Chicago, and the mutual commitment to drive access in the city's communities extends beyond the race.

BCBSIL and NASCAR also contributed $30,000 to Ada S. McKinley Community Services' community garden program to help expand employment opportunities and mental health services for vulnerable residents on Chicago's South Side.

"Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois wants to make an actionable impact in the communities it serves across Illinois," said BCBSIL President Stephen Harris. "Family Focus is providing support to communities to help families thrive and survive. We want to help amplify the work they do supporting youth at an early age and addressing the trauma they may have experienced."

Julie Giese, president of NASCAR Chicago Street Race, said NASCAR is committed to Chicago and nonprofits like Family Focus that are trying to improve the lives of residents.

"We are working together to shine a spotlight on all the communities," she said. "This is an opportunity to showcase all the amazing organizations and appreciate all the work being done."

Chicago Alderman Monique Scott, whose 24th ward includes Family Focus' Lawndale center, told the crowd her life is a testament to the services Family Focus provides. As a teen, she participated in the nonprofit's after-school program, and it also was the place where she got her first job after becoming an adult.

"This has been home for me a very long time," Scott said. "There are amazing things that go on here. They drive positive change."