Youth Telehealth Program Expands With $500,000 Grant
The new funding will bring behavioral health therapy to 350 Indiana youth annually over the next three years.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Teens
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Do you believe expanded telehealth access will significantly improve youth mental health in your community?
The Villages of Indiana has secured a $500,000 grant to expand its behavioral health telehealth services for youth across the state. This initiative aims to provide remote therapy to 350 children and teenagers annually, specifically targeting access gaps in at least 40 Indiana counties.
Why it matters
The grant addresses a critical rise in mental health challenges among Indiana students, where reported suicide attempts climbed to 15.7% in 2023. By utilizing telehealth, the program overcomes the long travel times often required for in-person care in rural areas.
The $500,000 grant from the Indiana Youth Institute will fund the telehealth program for three years, serving youth ages 5 to 18. This service currently aims to reach 350 youth per year across a network of at least 40 counties.
The players
The Villages of Indiana
A youth-focused social services agency based in Terre Haute that provides family support and behavioral health care.
Indiana Youth Institute
A statewide organization that provides resources, data, and funding to improve the well-being of youth.
Lilly Endowment Inc.
A private philanthropic foundation that provides the grant funding for youth initiatives across Indiana.
The details
The program provides behavioral health therapy via secure telehealth sessions, allowing children to connect with licensed Indiana-based therapists from home. This remote model serves as a vital bridge for families in rural areas who face significant travel barriers to reach traditional in-person clinical mental health facilities. The new funding will allow the agency to hire additional counselors to manage the increased caseload and expand the program's geographic footprint.
Timeline
2021: Suicide attempts among high school students were 11.8%.
2023: Suicide attempts among high school students rose to 15.7%.
2024: The Villages of Indiana started a small telehealth program.
October 22, 2026: The agency announced receipt of the grant.
Next 3 years: The grant will fund the telehealth program expansion.
The Home Front
This program reflects a broader shift toward expanding virtual clinical care to address regional disparities in youth mental health access. It serves as a localized response to the upward trend in adolescent mental health challenges documented by state health reporting.
Families across the 40 participating counties should contact the agency to determine if their local school district or household is within the current coverage area. If you are seeking mental health support for a child, review the official program portal to check for upcoming counselor availability.
The takeaway
Telehealth is increasingly becoming a primary method for ensuring children have consistent access to mental health therapy regardless of their geographic location. Parents should save the agency's primary resource link to monitor for new counselor onboarding or service area updates.
Further reading
For more information on supporting adolescent mental health, visit our Teens section.
More information
For details on services or to apply for support, visit the Telehealth program sign up and careers page.
Live Poll
Do you believe expanded telehealth access will significantly improve youth mental health in your community?
