2.1 About you

Taken directly from your RFP, we acknowledge that Lurie Children’s Center for Childhood Resilience (CCR) develops, evaluates, and disseminates mental health best practices to promote systems change, increase access, and reduce mental health disparities where kids live, learn and play. CCR partners with schools and youth-serving organizations to deliver innovative, sustainable, and evidencebased strategies, promote mental health and wellness, and foster resilience in the face of adversity to nurture children’s socio-emotional well-being. We work statewide with a focus on communities with racial disparities, high child-poverty index, and disconnection from infrastructure. We focus on elevating youth voice and incorporating the educator experience to ensure solutions are appropriate and sustainable. CCR has a 17-year history of leadership in building awareness of the impact of exposure to trauma and violence in Illinois and partnering to implement sustainable solutions for healing our communities. CCR has extensive partnerships with Chicago Public Schools and over 30 other districts across the state of Illinois. Annually, CCR trains and provides consultation to over 1,500 school- and community-based clinicians, educators, and youth development staff to build capacity and improve their systems, strategies, and interventions to support youth mental health and resilience. CCR staff are certified trainers in nationally recognized, evidence-based school interventions for students exposed to trauma, including Bounce Back, Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools, and Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress.

“CEO and founder of zö agency, Sonja Anderson, has an ACES score of 9, was herself a runaway before building community and trust and deeply understands this work after 30 years in the field. It is a passion project for zö to walk alongside you. We understand this project from both sides.”