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Holy Family University Awarded $489,488 Federal Grant to Expand Student Mental Health and Recovery Support

Holy Family University outdoor seating area.

Holy Family University has been awarded a four-year, $489,488 grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to fund its Tigers Take Care initiative. The initiative will expand mental health support, suicide prevention and substance use recovery resources at the University’s Philadelphia and Newtown campuses.

Tigers Take Care will serve Holy Family’s nearly 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students, strengthening connections between campus services and community providers while helping students, faculty and staff recognize mental health concerns and respond effectively. The project runs from fall 2026 through Sept. 29, 2030.

“Students need to know that when they face a difficult moment, they have a community ready to listen and help,” said Anne Prisco, Ph.D., president of Holy Family University. “Tigers Take Care will strengthen that community of support, making mental health and well-being a more visible and connected part of the Holy Family experience.”

The initiative will expand the University’s Counseling Center services and connect students with community mental health and substance use treatment providers, including those offering longer-term care. It aims to provide case management, crisis follow-up, and referral coordination for at least 75 students in its first year and establish at least three formal community partnerships by the end of its second year.

The grant will also support:

  • Suicide prevention training for students, faculty, and staff annually, helping participants recognize warning signs and connect someone with support.
  • Mental health awareness and suicide prevention education for incoming students each year.
  • At least nine student-led mental health awareness or stigma-reduction programs annually.
  • Expanded recovery-oriented support, mental health programming and outreach to help students understand and access available resources.
  • A cross-campus Advisory Council to guide implementation, assess progress and plan for sustaining the work beyond the grant period.

“Asking for help should not mean having to figure everything out on your own,” said Marianne Price, vice president for student life and dean of students. “This grant will help us make the next step clearer, whether a student needs an initial conversation, a connection to ongoing treatment or support in recovery. It will also give more members of our campus community the knowledge and confidence to help.”