The Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Receives $100,000 Award from Morgan Stanley for Innovation in Addressing Children’s Mental Health
Morgan Stanley | Children’s Mental Health Innovation Awards
San Luis Obispo, CA and Soquel, CA - March 18, 2024 -- As the youth mental health crisis grows, so does the shortage of qualified therapists able to meet the increasing need. This is why Lori Butterworth, an award-winning nonprofit leader and child advocate, and Dr. Ramona Friedman, a child and adolescent psychologist joined forces to launch the Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CCAMH), an organization dedicated to expanding access to affordable, evidence-based mental health support to children, teens, and young adults. The organization’s vision for addressing the youth mental health crisis has earned recognition from Morgan Stanley, the American Psychological Association, and countless families.
“Parents are desperately seeking mental health support for their kids, said Lori Butterworth, Co-Founder of CCAMH. “I am excited about how this award and recognition from Morgan Stanley will allow us to address the mental health challenges of youth and their families starting in our local communities.”
This is not the first time Butterworth has launched innovative solutions to ease the suffering of children. Jacob’s Heart and the Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition are among the successful programs she has envisioned and led. “When I met Dr. Friedman, we quickly realized that our joint expertise and passion for improving the quality and accessibility of youth mental health care could be leveraged to find solutions for the mental health challenges our children are facing,” she added.
CCAMH was established in June 2023 and has since opened two youth mental health centers in San Luis Obispo and Soquel, CA. The CCAMH model balances a combination of free and affordable evidence-based mental health services that include teen advisory groups, parent/family support, youth counseling sessions, and training and supervision for emerging counselors, therapists, and child psychologists.
“With 13 years of experience as a clinical psychologist focused on youth mental health on the Central Coast, I am very aware of the needs of the youth and families in our community,” said Dr. Ramona Friedman, President and Co-Founder of CCAMH. “I am not only thrilled to be fulfilling my goal to provide more access to the youth and families, but I am aware of the impact of this award to help us provide expanded access to mental health services to children and families from marginalized communities.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry and the Children’s Hospital Association have all declared a National State of Emergency in
Children’s Mental Health. And suicide remains the second leading cause of death in teens.
“Our youth can face mounting mental health challenges and together we must rise to the challenge by mobilizing innovative solutions to meet their needs,” said Rep. Jimmy Panetta. “Thankfully, organizations like the Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health are stepping up to expand access to quality, evidence-based youth mental health in California’s 19th Congressional District. This investment is a testament to this organization’s vital work and our community’s concern and care for the future of our children."
As one of five organizations nationwide selected to receive the Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children’s Mental Health Innovation Award, CCAMH is being recognized for its commitment to expanding services for first-generation American teens and families. With this award, CCAMH will increase current services to include a First-Gen Teen Center that will empower first-generation American teen advisors to engage in peer mentoring and train new therapists to provide culturally informed treatment and family support.
“The American Psychological Association applauds the efforts of the Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health for innovation in expanding access to mental health care support for the most vulnerable among us,” said APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr. “We are gratified that this program was inspired by our collective work to promote population health, which seeks to prevent mental illness by working with people before they have a full-fledged diagnosis.”
To learn more about the Morgan Stanley Innovation Awards: https://www.morganstanley.com/about-us/giving-back/childrens-mental-health-awards/
To learn more about CCAMH: http://ccamh.org
###
About Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children's Mental Health
Launched in 2020, the Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children's Mental Health brings together key leaders in the children's mental health space and combines the resources and reach of Morgan Stanley and its Foundation with the knowledge and experience of its distinguished nonprofit member organizations. The Alliance helps strategically address children's mental health concerns and the far-reaching challenges of stress, anxiety and depression. For more information about the Alliance, visit www.morganstanley.com/mentalhealthalliance.
About the Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health
CCAMH began in response to the mental health crisis facing children, teens, and young adults with a mission to expand access to quality, evidence-based youth mental health treatment as quickly as possible. Through evidence-based programs, CCAMH currently provides affordable options for youth and families in San Luis Obispo and Santa Cruz counties with plans for programmatic and geographic expansion. For more information: www.ccamh.org.
