March 25, 2026 Grand Rapids Community College has received a $251,942 Barrier Removal - Growing Institutional Capacity grant from  Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) to strengthen mental health services for students through expanded capacity, training and campus-wide engagement. The three-year grant will support the work of  GRCC’s Center for Counseling and Well-Being and advance the college’s strategic priority to expand equitable access to mental health supports for students. “This funding allows us to move from understanding the need to taking meaningful, systemic action,” said Melissa Ware, program director for GRCC’s Center for Counseling and Well-Being. “We know our students are navigating significant stressors, and this grant helps us ensure that support is visible, accessible and embedded throughout their college experience.” Meeting a Critical Student Need Data collected from GRCC students underscore the urgency of this work. According to the Fall 2024 #RealCollegeSurvey, more than one-third of students experienced food insecurity in the prior month, nearly half reported housing insecurity in the past year, and 4% experienced homelessness. These challenges often take a significant toll on student mental health and academic access. Findings from the Healthy Minds Study and additional research conducted by the Mental Health Improvement through Community College (MHICC) initiative revealed that: 57% of GRCC students reported currently needing help for mental health concerns 40% said their mental health negatively affected their academic performance multiple days in a single month 55% experienced clinically significant symptoms of depression, anxiety or suicidality Only 13% had ever used counseling services on campus Mental health is also the most frequently cited reason GRCC students give for leaving college before completing a degree. Expanding Capacity and Awareness Grant funding will be used to grow institutional capacity in three key areas. Building Faculty and Staff Knowledge Faculty and staff across the college will receive Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) training — an evidence-based suicide prevention program that helps participants recognize warning signs, initiate supportive conversations and connect students to help. GRCC will use a train-the-trainer model to offer quarterly sessions and ensure long-term sustainability. Increasing Student Awareness and Engagement The Center for Counseling and Well-Being will expand peer-to-peer outreach by training student peer educators to deliver presentations, host events and promote help-seeking behaviors. A new Student Advisory Board will provide a formal channel for student voice in shaping mental health services. Additional initiatives include: Outreach campaigns that connect students with faculty and resources.  Annual Student Success and Well-Being Summits featuring workshops, screenings and community resources Strengthening Systems and Infrastructure GRCC will join the JED Foundation’s  JED Campus program, a nationally recognized initiative that helps colleges implement a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to mental health promotion and suicide prevention. Through assessment, strategic-planning and ongoing technical assistance, GRCC will enhance crisis protocols, pursue accreditation for its counseling services and plan for long-term sustainability beyond the grant period. “This work is about creating a campus culture where asking for help is normal and support is easy to find,” Ware said. “By strengthening systems and empowering both students and employees, we’re building a foundation that will serve GRCC students well beyond the life of this grant.”