by Community Engagement Team
Indiana University South Bend’s Division of Nursing Science has been awarded a grant through the Valinhos Foundation.
The funding will launch “HealthConnect: Promoting Wellness through Comprehensive Mental Health Education and Service.” The three-year initiative is designed to address critical gaps in mental health care. IU South Bend’s faculty, staff, and students will be equipped with skills to recognize and respond to mental health and substance use challenges.
HealthConnect will initially train and certify several faculty, staff and students who will then train hundreds of additional people over three years.
“Training will be embedded into the undergraduate and family nurse practitioner curricula to ensure that all students receive comprehensive, evidence-based mental health education,” said Jenny Deranek, Associate Dean of the Vera Z. Dwyer School of Health Sciences.
IU South Bend will lead the development and implementation of HealthConnect in collaboration with Indiana University, ensuring alignment with university-wide goals and creating a scalable model that can be applied across IU’s nursing programs statewide.
“With the HealthConnect program being implemented on other IU campuses, the initiative at IU South Bend will benefit from shared resources, training strategies, and long-term impact,” said IU South Bend Chancellor Brian Pappas.
Key features of HealthConnect include an annual self-care resource contest, funding student-created wellness initiatives, and a strong emphasis on faculty and staff development as mental health champions. The initiative will foster a culture of proactive mental health support, peer-led wellness, and community engagement that extends far beyond the classroom.
“We’ve had a great partnership with IU South Bend in past efforts to address the mental health and well-being of the student community,” said Julie Veldman Harris, Executive Director of the Valinhos Foundation. “We are confident the HealthConnect program will advance the Foundation’s mission to prevent mental health challenges, increase the availability of care, and leverage evidence-based mental health care in the local community.”
Indiana University South Bend is the premier comprehensive public university dedicated to serving the needs of North Central Indiana and beyond. As a regional campus of Indiana University, IU South Bend provides opportunities for students to affordably earn a prestigious IU degree.
