Mental Health Centers of Central Illinois (MHCCI) received a $30,000 grant from the Women for Women initiative at the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln.

The grant will support MHCCI’s MOSAIC Moms program, which is part of a larger community initiative to transform the way mental healthcare is provided in the Springfield area.

“We are ecstatic to be able to build upon the successes of the MOSAIC Project by launching this new MOSAIC Moms program,” said Melissa Stalets, director for The Children’s MOSAIC project. “MOSAIC Moms will be a robust collaboration among Mental Health Centers of Central Illinois, Springfield Public Schools, Family Service Center and Community Child Care Connection to address the mental health and well-being of women and children who have very limited social support.”

MOSAIC Moms will offer three services to help meet the social and emotional needs of low-income single mothers and their children in the Springfield area, including facilitated parent/child groups, delivery of home-based mental health services, and consultation to home visitors and case managers who work with the target population.

Women for Women is a special initiative at the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln and aims to “build a legacy together” by pooling contributions from more than 100 members to create a permanent resource for local programs that support women and girls.

“The Community Foundation congratulates this extraordinary group for awarding a total of $123,000 to local nonprofits over the last seven years,” said John Stremsterfer, president and CEO of the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln. “The members of Women for Women are very pleased to see the growth and impact this initiative has already had for programs that support women and children in Sangamon County.”

In addition to the grant announcement, Women for Women also presented three awards to local women who have gone above and beyond to foster positive change in the lives of others through their involvement, action and dedication. The 2014 “Women Helping Women” award recipients are Karen Hasara, Rachel Kocis and Penny Wollan-Kriel.

The Founding chair of the Women for Women steering committee is Karen Hasara. Other members of the steering committee are Rachel Broughton, G. Virginia Conlee, Jane Denes, Mary Loken, Peggy Ryder, Judy Stephens and Lisa W. Stone.

The Community Foundation encourages local charities to watch its website – CFLL.org – and sign up to receive alerts when other funding opportunities are available throughout the year.